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Collection  de 
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Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notat/Notat  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tlia  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
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tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chaclcad  balow. 


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Coiourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  couiaur 


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Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastaurte  at/ou  paiiicul6a 


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La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


r~~|   Coiourad  maps/ 


Cartas  giographiquas  an  couleur 

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Encra  da  couiaur  (i.a.  auvra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


I      I   Coiourad  platas  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planchas  at/ou  illustrations  an  couiaur 

Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
RaliA  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  rellura  sarrAe  paut  causar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
distortion  la  long  da  la  marga  intiriaura 

Bianlc  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutias 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  taxte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atalt  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  AtA  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairas  supplAmentaires; 


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to  the 


L'Institut  a  microfilmA  la  maillaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  AtA  possibii  da  sa  procurer.  Lea  dAtaiia 
da  cat  axemplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  pauvant  modifier 
una  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  mithoda  normala  da  filmage 
sont  indiquAa  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 


^ 


D 


X 


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Coloured  pagaa/ 
Pagaa  da  couiaur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtas 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurtas  at/ou  pelliculAea 

Pages  diacoioured.  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dAcolor6es.  tachaties  ou  piquAes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  dAtachias 

Showthrough/ 
Tranaparance 


nn    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Qualit*  inigaia  da  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  diaponibia 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  una  pelure. 
etc.,  ont  4tA  fiimAes  A  nouveau  da  faqon  A 
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Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

7 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
ginirosit^  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symboie  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
filmds  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


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1      1 

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I 


ACADIE  AND  THE  ACADIANS. 


ACADIE 


AND  THF. 


A!CADIANS. 


BY 


D.  LUTHER  ROTH, 


AUTHOR  OF  "OUR  SCHOOLMASTER,"  PASTOR  OF  THF.  CHURrH  OF  THE 

REDEEMER,  A  LIU  NY,  N.  Y. 


THIRD   EDITION. 


UTICA,  N.  Y.: 
PRESS  OF  L.  C.  CHILDS  &  SON, 

1891. 


rcTobo 


\V\\ 


257738 


/' 


^ 


I     ^ I 


icc^i 


Copyright,  1890, 

BY 

D.  I.UTHER  ROTH. 


The  Old  Parsonage,  p.  351, 


CONTENTS. 


PAGB 

Introduction 

CHAPTKR  I. 
Pre-Columbian  Discovkry j- 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  Aborigines 

27 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  Reijgion  of  the  Aborigines 40 

CHAPTER  IV, 
The  Micmacs  of  To-day -^ 

CHAPTER  V. 

J'" 57 

CHAPTER  VI. 
vSabi^e  Isi<and g 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Eari,y  History ^g 

(vii) 


Viil  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
End  of  the  French  Teriod 88 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Engush  Coi«onization— Haui'ax 95 

CHAPTER  X. 
The  Founding  of  a  Church  in  Halifax 104 

CHAPTER  XI. 
"Conveying"  A  Church 115 

CHAPTER  XII. 
How  the  Thing  was  Done 131 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
The  Communion  Service  and  the  Burying  Ground  .  .  148 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
The  Founding  of  Lunenburg 164 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Proscription,  Rebei,uon  and  Troubi^e 187 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  French  and  Acadians 204 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
The  Acadians— Continued 229 


CONTENTS.  ix 

CHAPTER  XVIII.                               '^°' 
Thb  First  German  Schooi,  in  Lunenburg 244 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Ths  Houses  and  People  ok  the  Oi.den  Time  by  the 
Light  of  the  Fish-oii.  Lamp ^^^ 

CHAPTER  XX. 
The  Books  the  Fathers  Read 261 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Bryzeuus 

270 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Cai^ling  a  Minister 232 

CHAPTER  XXIH. 

A  Letter  from  the  Patriarch  Muhi^enberg  and  a 

Mani,y  Reply  .... 

295 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Through  Conflict  to  Victory 306 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
ScHULTz,  THE  First  Minister 313 

CHAPTER  XXVL 
The  Invasion  OF  Lunenburg .-^ 


^  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXVII.                             ^'^°'' 
ScHMEissER,  THE  Second  Minister .,5 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
Onb  of  the  Hessians 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Temme,  the  Third  Minister ,^6 

CHAPTER   XXX. 

COSSMANN,  THE  FoURTH  MINISTER 3S0 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Generai.  History  and  Statistics 4J0 


INTRODUCTION. 


THIS  book  has  been  in  preparation  since  1876. 
The  arrangement  of  material,  the  searches  after 
missing  links,  the  weighing  of  evidence  and  the  intro- 
duction of  new  matter,  during  the  intervening  period, 
have  occupied  much  of  the  spare  time  in  a  busy  hfe. 

As  a  historical  work,  I  believe  it  to  be  thoroughly 
accurate.  No  pains  have  been  spared  to  verify  its 
statements  and  make  them  perfectly  reliable  as  to 
names,  dates,  localities  and  occurrences. 

Neither  explanations  nor  apologies  are  needed  for 
the  publication  of  this  work.  It  should  have  been 
accomplished  long  ago.  As  for  that,  the  book  will 
speak  to  its  readers  for  itself  While  I  am  aware  that 
the  local  ecclesiastical  matter  must  be  interesting 
chiefly  to  Lutherans,  I  am  persuaded,  nevertheless, 
that  the  general  reader  will  find,  in  the  wider  range 
indicated  by  its  title,  much  interesting  information  not 
given  in  the  usual  line  of  book-making,  and  not  to  be 
found  elsewhere. 

My  thanks  are  due  and  hereby  publicly  tendered  to 
the  friends  who  have  kindly  assisted  in  this  work 

(xi) 


Xll 


INTRODUCTION. 


notably  to  Professor  J.  Liechti,  of  Dalhousie  College, 
Halifax,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cossmann,  of  Lunenburg,  N.  S.,' 
the  Rev.  J.  A.  Scheffer,  of  Allentown,  Penna.,  and  the 
good  woman  whose  name  figures  in  the  dedication. 

D.  L.  R. 

Albany,  New  York,  October,  tSgo. 


CHAPTER  I. 
PRE-COLUMBIAN  DISCOVERY. 

A  CADIK  is  c'l  land  full  of  interest,  both  in  its  natu- 
-^  ral  features  and  local  traditions.  The  first  well- 
authenticated  fact  in  its  history  is  preserved  in  the 
sagas  of  the  Icelanders.  Letters  and  learning  flour- 
ished among  them  when  the  rest  of  Europe  w  as  intel- 
lectually stagnant;  histories  and  annals  are  nowhere 
more  copious.  While  the  greater  part  of  Europe  was 
plunged  in  the  intellectual  night  of  the  Dark  Ages, 
away  in  the  frozen  regions  of  the  North  that  people 
flourished,  with  whom  freedom  and  enterprise  were 
neither  dead  nor  stagnant ;  a  people  who  possessed 
scientific  knowledge  and  the  ability  to  apply  it  to  prac- 
tical uses;  a  people  simple,  fearless  and  energetic;  a 
people  capable  of  self-government,  republicans  at  once 
in  name  and  practice.  And  there,  in  Iceland,  amoncr 
these  people,  in  the  writings  of  Snorri  Sturluson,*  the 
renowned  author  of  Hcims-Kringla,  particular  men- 
tion is  made  of  the  vast  Continent  f^ir  to  the  westward, 
of  which  Acadie,  or  Nova  Scotia,  is  a  part. 


*  Born  1178,  +'241. 
(>3) 


It 


14 


ACADIK   A^^  THE   ACADIANS. 


There,  in  Iceland,  existing  to  this  day,  is  a  manu- 
script* of  undoubted  antiquity,  proven  to  have  been 
written  more  than  one  hundred  years  before  the 
wonderful  voyage  of  Columbus,  when — 

In  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety  two 
He  sailed  across  the  ocean  blue  ; 

in  which  MS.  is  ijivcn  a  detailed  and  circumstantial  ac- 
count  of  the  voyage  of  Leifr  Heppni,  the  son  of  Eirekr 
Raudi,  Icelander,  the  real  discoverer  of  North  America. 
Eric  the  Red,  a  famous  Norwegian  sailor,  called 
"  The  Red,"  because  of  his  red  hair  and  florid  complex- 
ion, had  discovered  Greenland  in  the  year  nine  hundred 
and  eighty-two,  and  extensive  settlements  had  been 
made  there.  His  son  Lief,  who  made  his  home  in 
Iceland  when  he  was  not  roving  the  sea,  was  ambitious 
and  daring.  He  built  a  shallop  after  the  fashion  of 
the  vessels  of  his  day,  with  a  high  prow,  a  dragon  tail 
astern,  rigged  with  a  bank  of  oars  and  one  square  sail, 
manned  her  with  five  and  twenty  seamen  stout  and 
bold,  and  invited  his  father  to  sail  with  him  and  take 
command.  Eric  thought  himself  too  old,  but  finally 
allowed  himself  to  be  persuaded.  Embracing  his  re- 
maining children,  he  bade  them  farewell  and  mounted 
his  horse  to  ride  to  the  harbor,  where   the  vessel  lay 

i"— ■  —  ■  I    - 

*  The  celebrated  Codex  Flalhiensis. 


PRE-COLUMBIAN    DISCOVERY. 


IS 


I 


ready  to  sail.  But  the  horse  stumbled  on  the  way, 
and  Eric,  full  of  the  sailor's  superstition  of  his  age, 
thought  it  an  nnun  of  evil.  "I  do  not  believe  it  is 
given  to  me  to  discover  any  more  lands,"  said  the  old 
seaman,  "  and  here  I  will  remain."  He  bade  his  son 
farewell,  and  returned  home. 

Lief  and  his  companions  sailed  away  in  a  south- 
westerly course,  and  soon  were  fighting  the  fogs  and 
storms  of  the  North  Atlantic  between  Greenland  and 
Labrador.  This  was  in  the  summer  of  the  year  one 
thousand.  Bravely  holding  their  course,  after  long 
tossing  on  the  stormy  water,  they  were  at  length  driven 
u})on  an  unknown  shore,  a  wonder-land,  a  land  of  vast 
extent  and  marvelous  beauty.  That  land  was  North 
America,  the  particular  locality  unknown.  The  hardy 
Norsemen  made  their  way  in  safety  back  to  Iceland, 
where  the  story  of  the  grand  discovery  was  told,  be- 
lieved, and  written  in  the  chronicles  of  the  land. 

In  the  year  1002  an  expedition  similar  to  the  first 
was  fitted  out  and  dispatched  for  further  exploration. 
Lief,  now  called  **  Heppni,"  "  the  Lucky,"  by  his 
countrymen,  was  again  in  command.  He  held  his 
course  almost  due  west,  and  in  time  sighted  land.  It 
was  flat,  with  fearful  and  forbidding  rocks  along  the 
shore,  and  high,  snow-covered  mountains  farther  in- 
land.    This  was  Labrador.     The  hardy  rovers  of  the 


i6 


ACADIE   AND    THE   ACADIANS. 


sea,  in  their  own  tongue,  named  it  "  Helhdmid  hin 
myklal'  (The  Great  Land  of  Rocks,)  refused  to  land, 
and  held  their  course  to  the  south  by  east.  They  soon 
came  to  another  country,  flat  like  the  first,  but  with  a 
broad  beautiful  beach  of  white  sand,  the  interior  thickly 
covered  with  woods.  Here  in  a  little  estuary  the  ad- 
venturers cast  anchor,  went  ashore,  and  regaled  them- 
selves with  the  sweet  berries  which  they  found.  But 
the  country  looked  better  from  the  ship  than  they 
found  it  upon  closer  inspection  to  be,  for  it  was  very 
rocky.  They  named  it,  "  Helluland  hin  iiitia,"  (The 
Little  Land  of  Rocks,")  rejoined  their  ship,  and  sailed 
away.  Soon  the  bold  seamen  sailing  southward 
sighted  another  shore.  The  land  was  slightly  hilly, 
mostly  covered  with  trees,  its  northerly  shore  sheltered 
by  a  long  island.  In  it  they  found  abundance  of  small 
wild  fruits  delicious  to  the  taste.  Bones  of  fishes  and 
burnt  wood  upon  the  shore  indicated  the  presence  of 
human  beings.  The  air  was  balmy,  and  they  would 
have  remained,  but  the  desire  for  further  discovery  im- 
pelled them  further  to  the  south.  They  named  the 
country  "  Marklandl'  (The  Land  of  Woods,)  and  sailed 
away,  leaving  behind  them  with  its  new  and  appropri- 
ate name,  the  country  along  the  south  shore  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  river,  now  known  as  Nova  Scotia.  It  will 
be  vastly  interesting  to  follow  for  a  little  in  the  wake 


PRE-COLUMBIAN    DISCOVERY. 


17 


of  these  bold  voyagers,  and  learn  their  story  as  it  is 
related  in  the  archives  of  their  country. 

They  sailed  across  the  Bay  of  Fiindy  and  made 
land  again  away  to  the  south.  Seeking  a  harbor, 
they  found  one  at  the  mouth  of  a  river,  where  the  ris- 
ing tide  bore  them  into  a  bay.  There  they  landed. 
The  air  was  like  that  of  Paradise.  Birds  sang  and 
squirrels  chattered  in  the  noble  oaks  around  them. 
The  waters  abounded  in  salmon  and  the  woods  in 
deer.  The  days  and  nights  were  nearly  of  equal 
length  when  they  landed.  They  remained  all  winter, 
and  noted  that  when  the  days  were  the  shortest,  the 
sun  rose  at  half-past  seven  and  set  at  half-past  four. 
A  young  German,  who  was  Eric's  servant,  was  one 
day  missing.  Search  was  made,  and  he  was  found 
deep  in  the  forest,  where  he  had  discovered  grapes, 
delicious,  abundant,  such  as  grew  in  his  native  land. 
Many  other  vines  were  afterwards  found,  and  from 
these  Liet  derived  the  name  which  he  gave  the  land, 
"  Vinland  kin  goda''  (the  Good  Land  of  Vines).  The 
next  summer  the  explorers  returned  to  Greenland 
where,  ever  afterward,  as  well  as  in  Iceland  and  Nor- 
way, his  ancestral  home,  Lief  was  known  among  his 
countrymen  as  Liefr  Ileppni,  that  is.  Lief  the  Lucky. 

A   rock    discovered   on   the  bank  of  the  Tauntcu 
river  in  Massachusetts,  known  as  the  Dighton  stone, 


i8 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


and  marked  with  letters  and  characters,  strange  in 
shape  and  of  unknown  significance,  is  supposed  by 
eminent  antiquarians*  to  have  been  inscribed  by  these 
ancient  voyagers ;  and  tlie  time  noted  of  the  rising 
and  the  setting  of  the  sun  at  the  winter  solstice — the 
shortest  day,  about  Christmas  time — would  indicate 
some  point  on  the  New  England  coast,  in  Massachu- 
setts or  Rhode  Island.  The  old  stone  mill,  or  tower, 
at  Newport,  is  also  considered  by  many  to  have  been 
the  work  of  their  hands.  If  they  did  not  build  it,  as 
Professor  Rafn  claims,  who  did  ?  It  was  there  when 
the  English  settlers  came,  and  the  Indians  knew  noth- 
ing of  its  builders.  And  there  it  stands  now,  with  its 
massive  cylindrical  wall  resting  on  seven  columns, 
whose  foundations  are  seven  wrought  spheres  of 
stone,  mysterious  as  the  Pyramid  of  Gizeh  or  the 
Theban  Sphinx. 

Certain  relics  in  the  Museum  of  the  Royal  Society 
of  Northern  Antiquaries  at  Copenhagen,  Denmark, 
give  conclusive  evidence  of  the  early  colonization  of 
Greenland  and  America,  and  corroborate  the  testi- 
mony  of  the    Icelandic    sagas.     Professor    Rafn,  the 


*  Finn  Magnussen,  Vice-president  of  the  Society  of  Northern  Anti- 
quaries,  among  others,  has  deciphered  its  hieroglyphics,  and  has  shown 
that  they  give  a  condensed  history  of  the  expedition  and  settlement  of 
Thorfinn  Karlsefni, 


PRE-COLUMBIAN   DISCOVERY. 


19 


learned  Secretary  of  the  Society,  claims  the  "Old 
Mill"  as  the  work  of  the  Northmen  of  the  eleventh 
century  ;  for  after  the  first  discoveries,  we  must  under 
stand,  as  the  Icelandic  records  show,  that  many  other 
colonists  came  and  that  extensive  settlements  were 
made.  A  summary  of  the  facts  with  respect  to  this 
early  discovery  and  settlement  shows  the  following: 
first,  with  respect  to  Greenland,  that  it  was  discovered 
in  982  and  its  western  coast  settled  by  Icelanders  and 
Norwegians.*  These  colonists  existed  as  a  commu- 
nity for  four  hundred  years,  when  they  numbered 
thousands  of  people  and  Greenland  was  erected  into 
an  Episcopal  see.  In  1448  a  brief  was  issued  by  Pope 
Nicholas  "granting  to  his  beloved  children  in  Green- 
land, in  consideration  of  their  having  erected  many 
sacred  buildings  and  a  splendid  cathedral,"  a  new 
bishop  and  a  fresh  supply  of  priests.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  next  century,  this  colony,  with  its 
bishop,  its   priests  and    people,  its  one  hundred  and 


*  Lief  introduced  Christianity  soon  after,  by  the  entreaties  of  the 
king,  Olaf  Trygvesson.  A  handsome  church  was  soon  erected,  and  the 
mission  was  so  successful,  under  the  patronage  of  the  royal  saint,  Olaf 
Ilaraldsson,  that  in  1034  it  became  part  of  the  Diocese  of  Adalbert, 
Archbishop  of  Bremen.  The  first  bishop  of  the  colony  was  appointed 
in  1 126,  and  he  had  more  tlian /w^//(y  successors,  while  churches* 
opened  in  all  directions. 


\v\ 


20 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


(:i 


|)i'' 


ninety  townships,  three  hundred  villages,  its  many 
churches,  and  its  grand  cathedral,  fades  into  oblivion 
like  the  fabric  of  a  dream.  The  memory  of  its  exist- 
ence perishes,  and  the  accounts  of  it  remaining  in  the 
Icelandic  sagas  gradually  come  to  be  regarded  as 
poetical  inventions  or  pious  frauds.  But  at  last,  after 
more  than  four  hundred  years,  some  Danish  Lutheran 
missionaries  set  out  to  convert  the  Esquimaux;  and 
there,  as  Professor  Ra^n  has  demonstrated  and  as  the 
collateral  evidence  proves,  they  discovered  vestiges  of 
the  ancient  settlement  far  up  in  Davis'  Strait.  There 
were  remains  of  houses,  paths  in  the  rock,  walls, 
churches,  tombstones  and  inscriptions,  attesting  the 
previous  existence  of  a  large  colony.  On  one  of  the 
stones  found  on  White  Woman's  Island,  Baffin's  Bay, 
latitude  72°55'  north,  written  in  old  Runic  characters, 
is  the  following  inscription : 

ViGDis  M.  D.  HviLiR  Her;  Gwlde  Gude  Sal 
Hennar,"  /.  c,  "  Vigdessa  rests  here;  God  gladdens 
her  soul." 

Another  inscription  discovered  in  1824  reads  thus: 
"  Erland  Sighvatson  and  Biomo  Thordarson  and 
Eindrid  Oddson,  on  Saturday  before  Ascension  week, 
raised  these  marks  and  cleared  ground,  11 35."  That 
reference  to  Ascension  week  shows  that  these  were 
Christians.     The   stones    bearing    these    inscriptions, 


PRE-COLUMBIAN    DISCOVERY. 


21 


together  with  others  equally  convincing,  are  now  in 
the  museum  of  Northern  Antiquities  at  Copenhagen. 

The  second  fact  of  interest  is,  that  only  four  years 
after  the  discovery  of  Greenland,  in  the  summer  of 
986,  Bjorn  I  lerjulfsson,  a  Norwegian  navigator,  sighted 
the  shores  of  America,  but  did  not  land. 

Then  in  the  year  1000  came  Lief  the  Lucky. 

In  1002  the  second  expedition  under  his  command 
sailed,  and  wintered  in  Vifiland  Jiin  goda. 

In  the  year  1003  ''^^^  brother  of  Lief,  Thorwald  by 
name,  with  thirty  companions,  came  to  Vinland.  They 
passed  the  winter  in  the  huts  built  by  Lief  and  his 
party,  subsisting  upon  fish  and  the  game  they  took  in 
the  woods.  They  spent  the  summer  in  exploring  the 
islands  and  the  shore  in  their  neighborhood,  but  found 
nothing  of  importance.  The  islands  were  sandy. 
There  was  little  trace  of  human  beings  on  them.  An- 
other summer  was  spent  in  the  same  way.  In  the 
autumn  the  hardy  pioneers  entered  a  large  inlet  with 
high  banks  thickly  wooded.  "  Mere  is  a  goodly  land; 
here  I  will  make  my  home,"  said  Thorwald.  Here 
they  found  some  natives,  small  of  stature  and  of  dark 
complexion.  They  were  in  canoes,  and  though 
armed,  seemed  timid  and  harmless  in  disposition. 
The  Northmen,  fearing  treachery,  put  them  to  death, 
except  one,  who  escaped  with  the  news  of  the  slaughter, 


32 


ACADIK    AND    TFIE    ACADIAXS. 


and  aroused  his  countrymen.  The  savages  were  angry 
and  sought  revenge.  Silently  they  came  by  night  in 
their  canoes,  and  fell  upon  their  foes.  A  fight  ensued, 
in  which  Thorwald  was  mortally  wounded.  Then  the 
savages  fled  to  the  hills,  and  Thorwald's  men  buried 
the  body  of  their  chief  on  the  spot  where  he  had  said 
he  would  make  his  home,  planting  a  cross  at  his  head 
and  another  at  his  feet.  They  passed  the  winter  in 
Vinland,  in  constant  fear  of  the  natives,  and  in  the 
spring  returned  to  Greenland.  The  spot  where  Thor- 
wald was  buried  was  probably  somewhere  in  the 
vicinity  of  Martha's  Vineyard.  Albert  Thorwaldsen, 
the  world-renowned  sculptor,  claims  this  Thorwald  as 
one  of  his  ancestors. 

In  the  year  1007  a  colony  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
persons,  led  by  Thorfinn  Karlsefni,  a  rich  young  Nor- 
wegian, sailed  from  Greenland  to  Vinland,  to  plant  a 
colony  there.  He  remained  in  the  colony  three  years, 
made  several  voyages  to  Iceland,  and  finally  settled 
there,  built  a  magnificent  mansion,  and  lived  in  a  style 
surpassing  any  chieftain  of  the  land. 

About  the  year  1027,  a  ship  from  Iceland  was  driven 
out  of  her  course  by  contrary  winds  and  blown  away 
to  the  southwest,  where  land  was  found  and  a  landing 
made.  Some  of  those  who  went  ashore,  being  sur- 
prised by  the  natives,  were  captured  and  carried  away 


PRE-COLUMBIAN    DISCOVERY. 


n 


into  the  forests  of  the  interior.  Among  them  vas 
Gudlief  Gudlangsen,  who  wrote  an  account  of  the  ad- 
venture which  is  still  in  existence.  There  they  were 
met  by  an  aged  white  man  who  appeared  to  be  a  chief, 
and  spoke  to  them  in  the  okl  Norse  tongue.  I  le 
secured  the  release  of  the  prisoners,  and  advised  them 
to  depart  without  delay,  because  his  dusky  warriors 
were  unmerciful  to  strangers.  Upon  their  leaving,  he 
brought  forth  a  gold  ring  and  a  sword  of  European 
manufacture,  which  he  asked  them  to  carry  back  to 
Iceland,  to  persons  whom  he  named.  He  would  not 
tell  them  who  he  was,  but  it  was  believed  that  he  was 
Bjorn  Asbrandson,  a  famous  poet  of  Iceland,  who  dis- 
appeared from  his  native  land  in  the  year  998. 

These  interesting  incidents  have  been  thus  briefly 
recapitulated  here  in  order  to  make  our  history  com- 
plete from  the  beginning.  While  they  may  not  all  be 
sufficiently  attested  to  form  the  basis  of  historical  con- 
clusions, yet  no  doubt  some  are  facts  not  to  be  dis- 
puted. The  relics  now  in  the  museum  of  Copenhagen 
furnish  evidences  of  the  discovery  and  occupation  of 
the  New  World  by  the  Northmen  which  cannot  be 
questioned.  And  yet,  despite  all  this,  the  significant 
and  sinister  fact  remains,  significant  and  sinister  to  the 
superstitious,  that  Pope  Alexander  VI.  (Roderigo 
Borgia,  whose  name  is  the  historic  synonym  for  ex- 


f    < 


24 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


traordinary  infamy,  solely  on  the  statement  of  Colum- 
bus, deeded  the  Continent  of  America  to  Spain. 

A  monument  has  been  erected  in  Boston  in  honor 
of  Lief  the  Lucky,  the  actual  discoverer  of  the  conti- 
nent, Columbus  never  saw  the  continent  or  set  foot 
on  it,  though  the  discovery  by  him  of  the  adjacent 
West  Indies  really  led  to  its  re-discovery. 

Prof.  E.  N.  Horsford,  to  whose  antiquarian  researches 
and  zeal  is  due  the  erection  of  the  monument  to  Lief, 
the  son  of  Eric,  has  also  erected  a  tower  on  the 
Charles  river,  at  a  spot  which  his  studies  lead  him  to 
identify  as  the  site  of  the  Vinland  colony,  and  at  a 
later  day  of  the  lost  French  settlement  of  Norumbega.* 

These  form  our  foundation  facts.  Here  in  the  rock- 
bound  harbors,  broad  bays  and  quiet  estuaries,  on  their 


*  In  //eml(!ff(/eiihe  following  interesting  statement  has  been  published: 
"The  first  'Christian  sermon'  in  America,  in  the  tongue  of  our  fore- 
fathers, was  preached  by  Bishop  Jort,  who  arrived  in  America  [Vine- 
land]  from  Iceland  in  1059,  and  suffered  a  martyr's  death.  Green- 
land's first  bishop,  Erik,  bishop  of  Gardar,  arrived  here  in  1 121.  (A 
reference  to  this  visit  is  made  in  the  tablet  on  Prof.  Ilorsford's  tower. — 
Author.)  He  also  found  his  death  in  this  country.  After  Erik, 
Bishop  of  0^ur,  of  Lund,  Skane,  Sweden,  ordained  a  learned  priest, 
Arnold,  as  Bishop  of  Greenland.  He  was  succeeded,  in  1150,  by 
Bishop  Jonas  Knut  (Canute).  We  know  at  present  the  names  of  17 
bishops  who  had  been  in  Greenland  previous  to  I410,  and  of  these  sev- 
eral visited  the  colonies  of  the  Northmen  (Xordmannen)  in  America." 


1 

■/-■ 

i 


I 

'i 

i 
I 


I^RE-COLUMBIAN    DISCOVERY. 


25 


(A 

■ik, 

est, 

by 

17 
ev- 
»« 


voyages  of  discovery,  as  early  as  the  year  one  thou- 
sand, came  the  shallops  of  Lief  the  Lucky  and  his  suc- 
cessors, bearing  on  their  high  prow  the  wolf's  head, 
and  on  their  square,  tri-colored  sail,  the  raven  sacred 
to  Odin. 

But  after  a  time  all  positive  knowledge  of  their  oc- 
cupation is  forgotten,  and  the  traces  of  their  improve- 
ments are  destroyed.  Only  in  the  archives  of  Iceland, 
and  in  the  indestructible  rock-carvings  and  the  like, 
the  memory  remains.  What  became  of  the  settlements 
of  the  Northmen,  planted  on  the  coast,  only  God 
knows.  Cold  or  starvation,  hostile  Indians,  or  the 
Black  Death,  which  ravaged  the  world  in  the  four- 
teenth century,  may  have  destroyed  them.  But  so 
complete  and  mysterious  was  their  destruction  that 
none  escaped  to  tell  the  tale.  Never,  perhaps,  this 
side  of  eternity,  shall  we  know  more  concerning  their 
annihilation  than  is  known  now.  Of  all  who  came, 
none  returned  to  carry  back  the  tidings  of  the  utter 
loss.  All  are  gone — gone  to  keep  the  long  mysteri- 
ous exodus  of  death ;  no  voice  comes  to  us  from  the 
silent  land  to  give  answer  to  our  persistent  questioning. 
The  waves  of  old  Atlantic  rolled  in  solemn  grandeur 
as  of  yore  on  all  the  many  leagues  of  coast  from 
stormy  Labrador  to  sunny  Florida;  the  forest  bloomed 
and  waved  its  sombre  boughs  in  its  primeval  beauty, 


^11 

I'  1 


m 


1*1 


i  <    1 


26 


ACADIE   AND  THE   ACADIANS. 


|i^ 


while  through   it   roamed   the   swarthy  Indian,  once 
again  its  undisputed  lord.* 

*  That  the  Norsemen  discovered  America  five  hundred  years  before 
the  voyage  of  Columbus  thither  is  teslTfied  by  Ortelius  as  early  as  1070; 
by  Adam  of  Bremen  in  1072;  by  Torfaeus  in  1075;  by  Arne  Marson, 
the  Icelandic  chief;  by  Arne  Frode,  in  his  Account  of  Vinland,  1097;  '^X 
Gudlief  Gudlangson,  the  Icelandic  captive,  whose  MS.  still  exists;  by 
Snorri  Sturluson  and  the  Codex  Flathiensis,  as  referred  to  above,  and 
upwards  of  a  hundred  modern  authors  of  repute,  among  whom  are 
Alex,  von  Humboldt,  Mallet,  Benj.  Franklin,  Malte-Brun,  Pinkerton, 
Wheaton,  Toulmin  Smith,  Beamish,  Da  Costa,  Wm.  and  Mary  Howitt, 
Baldwin,  Bryant,  Gravier,  Guernsey,  Washington  Irving,  Lord  DufTerin, 
Channing,  Southey,  Lossing,  Schoolcraft,  Goodrich,  Thomas  Carlyle, 
Sinding,  Rafn,  Bayard  Taylor,  Murat  Halstead,  Dr.  Kneeland,  Cyrus 
W.  Field,  Dr.  Hayes,  Holmberg,  Geijer,  Montelius,  R.  B.  Anderson, 
Finn  Magnussen,  Eric  Magnussen,  and  Mr.  Gladstone. 


: 


CHAPTER   II. 


THE  ABORIGINES. 

OF  the  various  nations  of  Indians  composing  the 
great  family  of  aborigines  inhabiting  this  North 
American  continent  at  the  time  of  its  rediscovery  by 
Europeans,  the  Algonquins,  of  whom  there  were  up- 
wards of  thirty  tribes,  each  speaking  a  separate"  dialect 
of  the  same  language,  were  among  the  most  numerous 
and  powerful.  To  this  great  family  belonged  the 
Micmacs  of  Nova  Scotia.  In  their  own  dialect  they 
called  themselves  Mcggaaniacks,  and  by  the  early 
French  settlers  they  were  known  as  ''Lc  Soui  :quoisy 
or  "the  salt  water  men,"  which  name  was  given  to 
distinguish  them  from  "Zr  Iroquois''  who  inhabited 
the  fresh  water  territory.  The  country  of  ''Lc  Souri- 
quois''  included  a  part  of  the  present  area  of  New 
Brunswick,  and  all  of  Cape  Breton,  Prince  Edward 
Island  and  the  peninsula  of  Nova  Scotia. 

In  a  letter  from  M.  Villebon  to  De  Lagny,  bearing 
date  September  2,  1694,  the  Micmac  land,  or  as  he 
wrote  it,  the  ^^  McggumaJighce ','  is  described  as  extend- 
ing "from  Isle  Percee  and  even  higher  up  the  river 

(27) 


i 


'tBill 


28 


ACADIE   AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


(St.  Lawrence)  on  the  way  to  Quebec,  and  through 
the  Bale  des  Chaleurs,  Restigouche,  Richiboucto, 
Baie  Verte,  Cape  Breton,  Campseau,  and  all  along  the 
coast  to  Cape  Sable,  Port  Royal,  Minas  and  Beau- 
bassin.  They  look  on  all  these  places  as  their  settle- 
ment at  all  times." 

Like  all  the  other  Indians  of  the  eastern  part  of  the 
continent,  except  the  Esquimaux,  they  are  tall  and 
well-formed.  They  still  hold  possession  of  their  an- 
cestral hunting  grounds  and  fishing  preserves  by  suf- 
ferance of  the  whites,  and  there  I  have  seen  them  in 
their  encampments  and  studied  their  customs,  habits 
and  peculiar  traditions. 

The  men  often  stand  well  upon  six  feet  in  height, 
are  broad-shouldered,  strong-limbed,  and  active.  They 
are  not,  however,  as  we  find  them  to-day,  the  Indians 
of  that  romantic  age  whose  fragrant  memory  lingers 
so  delightfully  in  the  charming  pages  of  James  Feni- 
more  Cooper.  Their  pure  blood  has  been  mixed  witli 
that  of  alien  races.  The  prevailing  color  among  them 
is  the  reddish-brown  or  copper  color  of  their  wild 
ancestors,  but  many  show  traits  of  Caucasian  or 
African  nationality  in  color  and  feature.  They  all 
have  the  high  cheek  bones,  long  black  straight  hair, 
large  lips  and  mouth,  and  the  piercing  coal-black  eyes 
of  the  true  Indian.     Their  number,  en  their  orgin.-vl 


THE   ABORIGINES. 


29 


eni- 
with 
hem 
wild 
1  or 
i^  all 
lair, 
eyes 

inj;^ 


territory  to-day,  as  reported  by  the  Dominion  govern- 
ment, is  about  four  thousand,  which  is  probably  not 
much  less  than  it  was  in  the  days  of  Lief  the  Lucky, 
since  the  surprising  fact  shown  by  the  Dominion  re- 
ports is  that  the  Indians,  instead  of  dying  out,  are 
steadily  increasing  in  that  country.  This  is  some- 
thing occurring  probably  for  the  first  time  in  the 
1  istory  of  the  savages  of  any  country  invaded  and 
J  ermanently  held  by  the  Caucasian  race. 

The  Micmacs  of  Nova  Scotia  still  build  their  dwell- 
ings after  the  manner  of  their  forefathers,  from  poles 
and  bark.  In  the  wigwam  they  have  a  place  for  every- 
thing, and  although  it  looks  confused  to  unaccustomed 
eyes,  everything  is  in  its  place.  Every  post  and  peg 
and  bar  and  fastening,  every  tier  of  bark  and  every 
appendage,  whether  useful  or  ornamental,  has  its  own 
particular  name  and  use.  Every  division  of  the  cone- 
shaped  curious  structure  is  well  defined  and  strictly 
kept  for  its  appointed  purpose.  Each  person  inhabit- 
ing the  dwelling  has  his  own  recognized  place  in  it. 
On  each  side  of  the  fire,  which  is  built  in  the  centre, 
is  the  part  called  Kaniigwom^  where,  to  the  right  on 
entering,  sit  the  master  and  mistress,  and  to  the  left 
the  young  people.  The  women  sit  nearest  the  door. 
They  are  never  permitted  to  sit  higher  than  the  men. 
At  the  back  of  the  wigwam  is  the  place  of  honor. 


f*' 


I|!t 


30 


ACADIE    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


When  a  visitor  is  made  welcome,  they  say  to  him, 
^' Knta-kuvia-gual  upcJia-lasel'  "Come  up  to  the  back 
part  of  the  wigwam."  The  men  sit  cross-legged  after 
the  oriental  fashion,  the  women  twist  their  feet  around 
to  one  side,  and  the  young  people  of  the  family  sit 
v'ith  their  feet  extended  before  them.  The  etiquette 
observed  is  as  exact  as  in  the  most  polished  society; 
and  here  the  extremes  meet,  for  your  true  Indian  is 
nothing  if  not  a  formalist,  and  only  Indians  and  ladies 
paint. 

When  a  neighbor  Micmac  comes  to  the  lodge  at 
night  he  never  presumes  to  enter  without  ceremony. 
Standing  outside,  he  salutes  the  inmates  of  the  wigwam 
by  ejaculating  the  word  ''Kwaf'  "Hello!"  If  his 
voice  be  not  recognized,  the  answer  comes  from  with- 
in, ''Kiva  wcnin  kcl?  "  "  Who  art  thou  ?  "  When  he 
has  given  his  name,  if  he  be  a  welcome  visitor,  he  is 
at  once  admitted,  and  in  due  form  installed  at  the 
back  part  of  the  wigwam ;  but  if  unwelcome,  he  re- 
ceives only  the  dry  question,  '*  Kogwa  pazvo  tiimiin  ?  " 
*'  What  do  you  want  ?  " 

It  is  an  open  question  whether  these  Indians  have 
gained  more  from  the  virtues  than  they  have  lost 
through  the  vices  which  they  have  learned  along  with 
their  partial  civilization.  The  condition  of  their 
women  has  in  some  respects  been   improved.     The 


THE   ABORIGINES. 


31 


have 

lost 

with 

their 

The 


men  may  no  longer  kill  them  with  impunity,  but  they 
still  hold  them  as  their  inferiors,  treating  them  as 
slaves  and  beasts  of  burden.  The  women  are  never 
allowed,  by  giving  advice  or  otherwise,  to  interfere  in 
the  transaction  of  any  business.  An  amusing  instance 
was  that  in  which  a  gentleman  was  bargaining  with  an 
Indian  for  some  feathers,  when  his  wife  remonstrated 
with  him  for  giving  too  high  a  price.  Indignantly  the 
swarthy  Micmac  regarded  her,  and  then  broke  out, 
"When  Indian  make  bargain,  squaw  never  speakum!" 

When  on  the  march,  as  they  often  are,  the  man 
always  walks  ahead,  the  woman  behind.  When  they 
halt  at  a  spring,  the  man  drinks  first.  In  moving  from 
one  part  of  the  wigwam  to  another,  the  woman  must 
never,  upon  any  condition,  step  across  her  husband's 
feet  or  over  his  fish-spear.  To  do  so  would  be  to  per- 
petrate an  outrage  so  great  that  her  lord  must  at  once 
avenge  his  wounded  honor  by  chastising  her. 

The  Micmacs  believe  with  Solomon,  that  he  who 
spares  the  rod  hates  the  child,  and  when  occasion  de- 
mands, are  not  slow  to  apply  the  birch.  By  this  means 
they  maintain  very  conmicndable  discipline  in  their 
households.  The  treatment  of  children  by  parents 
among  them  is,  in  general,  marked  by  solicitude,  gen- 
tleness, and  affection,  though  whether  white  babies 
would  live  to  endure  the  tender  mercies  of  an  Indian 


111! 


32 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


mother,  remains  to  be  proven.  They  \vill  strap  a 
pappoose  to  a  board  and  leave  it  standing  against  the 
side  of  a  house,  shivering  with  the  cold  or  sweltering 
under  the  sun  for  hours.  One  such  I  saw  leaning 
against  the  side  of  a  store  in  Bridgewater,  Nova  Scotia, 
while  the  mother  was  making  her  purchases  within. 
The  little  fellow  blinked  at  the  people  with  his  beady- 
black  eyes,  apparently  as  much  interested  in  them  as 
they  were  in  him.  The  mothers  tie  them  on  their 
backs,  and  on  the  march  they  will  trudge  along  with  a 
swinging  stride,  while  the  head  of  the  pappoose  sways 
up  and  down  and  from  side  to  side  at  every  step,  as 
though  in  imminent  peril  of  breaking  its  neck.  The 
children  manifest  no  inconsiderable  degree  of  affection 
for  their  parents,  though  the  natural  stoicism  of  the 
Indian  race  prevents  them  from  ever  becoming  very 
demonstrative. 

The  rude  home  life  of  these  people  has  its  charms 
for  them,  and  it  is  not  without  its  wild  amenities  and 
pleasures;  and  for  these  they  still  continue  in  it,  after 
the  nomad  custom  of  their  ancestors,  moving  from 
place  to  place  like  shadows  flitting  upon  the  face  of 
the  waters,  constantly  changing  and  leaving  no  im- 
pression, yet  always  the  same  through  the  centuries 
of  civilization  by  which  they  have  been  surrounded. 
They  have  an  eye  to  beauty  in  the  selection  of  their 


THE  ABORIGIiNES. 


33 


camping-grounds,  and  generally  pitch  their  tents  by 
the  side  of  some  lovely  lake  or  limpid  stream,  whose 
waters,  while  they  lend  life  and  variety  to  the  land- 
scape, at  the  same  time  supply  their  larder  with  an 
abundance  of  fine  fresh  fish. 

They  are  passionately  fond  of  gambling,  and  spend 
much  of  their  time  at  home  in  playing  games  of 
chance.  They  have  an  instinctive  craving  after  excite- 
ment, and,  under  its  influence,  change  in  an  instant 
from  their  ordinary  dull,  stoical,  stolid  and  almost 
stupid-looking  selves  into  a  numan  whirlwind  of  life 
and  energy.  Such  a  transformation  has  been  noted 
among  them  along  the  Strait  of  Canscau,  when,  as  the 
inhabitants  of  the  sleepy  settlement  dozed  in  the  heat 
of  the  midsummer's  sun,  a  shoal  of  porpoises  came 
suddenly  tumbling  into  sight.  In  an  instant  every- 
thing was  uproar  and  action. 

They  are  fond  of  music,  and  will  listen  for  hours 
with  the  keenest  delight  to  the  trumpeting  of  a  brass 
band  or  the  grinding  of  a  hand-organ.  They  seem  to 
enjoy  the  sensation  of  sound,  without  regard  to  its 
quality.  They  are  often  found  sawing  on  an  old  violin 
or  torturing  a  squeaking  accordion.  The  nmsic  can 
not  be  the  attraction  for  them,  for  music  is  not  in  their 
performance;  but  the  pleasurable,  purely  sensuous  ex- 
citement of  the  noise,  delights  them. 
3 


M 


If! 


1 


r 


I 


34 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


One  dark  and  stormy  night,  when  the  rain  was 
pouring  and  the  wind  blowing  furiously  in  from  the 
Atlantic,  I  was  driving  homeward  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Lunenburg,  Nova  Scotia.  I  had  to  pass  an  Indian 
lodge  by  the  way,  and  remarked  to  the  friend  at  my 
side  that  the  poor  fellows  must  surely  suffer  in  such 
weather.  But  when  we  came  near,  out  over  the  pine 
undergrowth  which  surrounded  the  wigwam  shone  the 
light  of  the  blazing  fire  within,  and,  as  we  checked  our 
horse  a  moment  to  listen,  there  rose  above  the  howling 
of  the  storm  the  sonorous  voice  of  a  man  singing  in 
the  tent  an  utterly  tuneless  tune  to  the  syllables: 

"Tra-la-da-lala  yah  whoop 
Tra  la  dalala  yah-oop, 
Tol-lol-tol-lol-la,"  etc, 

and  accompanying  the  voice  the  wheezy  tones  of  a 
cracked  violin  most  vigorously  manipulated;  while 
along  with  these  two  principal  parts  in  the  outlandish 
concert  arose  the  cackle  and  laughter  of  a  chorus  of 
children's  voices.  Mingling  as  it  did  with  the  wild 
voices  of  the  night,  the  song  of  the  wind  in  the  mourn- 
ful pines,  the  splash  and  patter  of  the  driving  rain,  and 
the  bellowing  of  the  neighboring  ocean,  it  was  such  a 
surprise,  wild,  uncivil'zed,  unique,  as  must  be  met  to 
be  appreciated;  a  concert  with  none  like  it,  perhaps, 
before  or  since.     But  the  Indians  were  not  suffering. 


THE   ABORIGINES. 


35 


There  is  a  difTorence  of  opinion  with  regard  to  the 
language  of  the  Micmacs;  some  who  understand  it 
describe  it  as  flexible,  copious  and  expressive;  while 
others  declare  the  very  reverse.  Probably  it  is  a 
case  of  taste  and  association,  in  which  case  de  gustibus 
non  disputandmn.  An  eccentric  Scottish  philologist 
in  1840  published  a  volume  of  nearly  three  hundred 
pages  in  which  he  labored  to  prove  that  the  Celtic 
language  "  was  contemporaneous  with  the  infancy  of 
mankind,"  or  in  other  words  that  it  was  the  language 
spoken  in  the  Garden  of  Eden.* 

In  the  same  year  Dr.  Strattan  of  Canada  published 
a  brochure  tracing  the  affinities  between  the  Greek, 
the  Gaelic  and  the  Latin  tongues.  Had  these  gentle- 
men compared  the  Celtic  with  the  Algonquin  langua- 
ges, resemblances  would  have  been  found,  such  as  are 
pointed  out  by  Campbell,  as  close  as  those  existing 
between  the  Greek  and  Micmac,  adduced  by  Dr. 
Strattan.  For  example :  Island  in  Gaelic  is  "  Inis,"  in 
Algonquin  "Inis;"  water  is  "Uisce"  in  Gaelic,  in  Al- 
gonquin it  is  "Isca;"  soft  in  Gaelic  is  "  Bog,"  in  Al- 
gonquin "Boge." 

In  the  Micmac  language,  the  native  or  aboriginal 

*««  History  of  the  Celtic  Language,"  by  L.  M.  McLean,  F.  O.   S., 
second  ed.     London,  Smith,  Elder  &  Co. 


;  hi 

\ 


I 


36 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADlANS. 


tongue,  the  alphabet  contains  only  twenty  letters,  F, 
Q,  R,  U,  X,  and  Z,  being  wanting. 

The  Indian  name  for  the  Province  of  Nova  Scotia 
is  Meggumaage,  Micmac  Land,  or  Country  of  the 
Micmacs. 

A  few  interesting  names  of  places  are; — Bras  d'Or 
Lake,  Petoobok,  a  long  dish  of  salt  water. 

Blomidon,  Onho(]Ec;eciik,  dogwood  grove. 

Gaspereaux  Lake,  Pasedookk,  it  has  whiskers  (re- 
fcrrinfj  to  its  numerous  small  islands  covered  with  fine 
shrubbery). 

Strait  of  Canso,  Tooegunuk,  an  outlet. 

Halifax,  Chebooktook,  great  harbor. 

Liverpool,  Ogomkigeal,  a  dry,  sandy  place. 

Lunenburg,  Assehik,  clam  land. 

La  Have  River,  Pijexooiskak,  having  lorg  joints. 

Newfoundland,  Uktakumkook,  the  mainlanu. 

Nictaux,  Niktaak,  river-forks. 

Prince  PLdward  Lsland,  P2pa(;nit,  reposing  on  the 
wave. 

Port  Medway,  Ulgedoo,  a  mushroom. 

Ashmutogun  (better  known  as  Aspotogan) ;  Ukpu- 
DESKAKUN,  **  where  they  blockade  the  passage  way," 
viz:  where  the  seals  go  in  and  out,  in  order  to  kill 
them.  Kebejo-koocht,  a  closing  of  the  passage,  is 
another  name  for  Ashmutogun. 


THfe   ABORIGINES. 


37 


Chester,  Menskwaak,  I  go  to  bring  him, 

MiLAPSKEGECiiT  (gold  niiiies),  "abounding  in  rocks 
of  all  shapes  and  sizes." 

A  few  words  are  remarkable  for  their  length  as 
compared  with  the  English  equivalent. 

Poogoolooskwemoosel,  the  elder, 

Atlasmoodegiskuk,  the  Sabbath, 

Najumooktakuncchk,  a  bat. 

Oonokpudeegisook,  the  snipe, 

Ukchigumooeechk,  the  coot. 

I'vllooigunuk-tasagigul,  seven  dollars. 

Oogumoolehin-tasagigul,  eight  dollars. 

The  following  are  short  Micmac  words; 

Ek,  if  it  were  there, 

Tas  at,  how  many  times  does  he  say  it? 

Wiktuk,  he  likes  the  taste  of  it. 

Boose,  I  go  away  by  water, 

Pooltenech,  let  us  all  be  sitting  down. 

Taleak  ?     What  is  the  news  ? 

Cawosk,  a  blown  down  piece  of  woods. 


The  Numerals. 


1.  Naookt. 

2.  Taaboo. 

3.  Seest. 

4.  Naoo. 


m 


!  m 


t '  ' 


38 


5. 
6. 

7. 
8. 

9. 

10. 

II. 

12. 

20. 

21. 

30- 
40. 

50. 

60. 

70. 

100. 

lOI. 

206. 

300. 

600. 

1000. 

100,000. 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 

Nan. 

Usookom. 

Ellooigunuk. 

Oogumooleh 

Peskoonadde 


3 


] 


in. 


Mtul 


n. 


Mtuln  chel  naookt. 

Mtuln  chel  taaboo. 

Tabooinskaak. 

Tabooinskaak  chel  naookt. 

Nasinskaak. 

Naooinskaak. 

Naninskaak. 

Usookom  tasinskaak. 

Ellooigunuk -tasinskaak. 

Kuskimtulnakun. 

Kuskimtulnakun  chel  naookt. 

Taaboo  kuskimtulnakun. 

Seest  kuskimtulnakun. 

Usookom  tas  kuskimtulnakun. 

Betooimtulnakun. 

Naookt  kuskinatulnakun  betooimtulnakun. 


THE   ABORIGINES. 


39 


Names   of   the   Months,   in   Micmac,   with   their 

Meanings. 

January,  Boonamooe-goos,  Frost-fish  month. 
February.    Abugunajit-goos,    the     snow     blinding 
month. 

March,  Segow-goos,  spring  month. 
April,  Punadummooegoos,  egg-laying  month. 
May,  Agese-goos,  month  of  young  seals. 
June,   Nibune-goos,  summer   month,  also    Sagipke- 
goos,  leaf-opening  month. 

July,    Upskooe-goos,    month    when    sea-fowl    shed 
their  feathers. 

August,  Kesagawe-goos,  month  when  the   young 
birds  are  full  fledged. 

September,  Majowtoogwe-goos,  moose-calling  month. 
October,  Wegawa-goos,  fat  month  (when  tame  ani- 
mals are  fat). 

November,  Skools-goos    (I  cannot   give  the  mean- 
ing). 

December,    Ukche-goos,    the    chief  month    (when 
Christmas  comes). 


il'"!* 


li\ 


Hill 
i'. 


I! 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  RELIGION  OF  THE  ABORIGINES. 


THE  religion  of  the  ancient  Micmacs  was  like  that 
of  the  western  tribes,  a  commingling  of  the  natural 
with  the  supernatural  in  a  vague  and  unsystematic 
grouping  around  the  great  Good  Spirit  and  the  great 
Evil  Spirit.  They  deified  the  forces  of  nature,  evolving 
from  each  some  sort  of  imaginary  personification, 
much  after  the  manner  of  the  ancient  Greeks  and 
Romans,  and  ranged  each  power  thus  personified  as 
the  friend  or  foe  of  man.  They  made  a  God  in  turn 
of  the  sun,  moon,  stars,  meteors,  fire,  water,  thunder, 
lightning,  and  everything  they  could  not  fully  com- 
prehend, which  seemed  to  be  superior  to  themselves. 
There  were  no  atheists  among  them.  They  had  no 
written  language,  excepting  rude  picture  writings 
sketched  on  rocks,  the  bark  of  trees,  or  the  tanned 
hides  of  beasts.  Their  history,  like  their  religion,  was 
recorded  on  the  memory  of  the  children  by  the  parents, 
and  thus  transmitted  from  generation  to  generation. 

The  most  illustrious  of  the  deities  of  the  Micmacs, 
after  the  Great  Spirit,  was  Glooscap,  a  demigod,  who 

(40) 


THE   RELIGION   OF   THE   ABORIGINES. 


41 


exercised  omnipotence  in  providing  human  conveni- 
ences on  a  gigantic  scale.  His  favorite  dwelling-place 
was  Minas  Basin.  There  he  had  his  beaver-pond,  the 
dam  being  across  the  entrance  at  Cape  Split.  The 
wild  animals  were  all  obedient  to  him,  and  at  his  call 
the  Moose  and  the  Caribou,  the  Bear  and  Loup  Cer- 
vier,  with  all  their  smaller  congeners,  came  hastening 
to  his  side  When  he  stretched  forth  his  magic  scep- 
tre over  the  sea,  the  fishes  came  to  hear  his  words  ol 
wisdom  and  to  do  his  will.  The  world  was  largely 
under  his  control,  the  elements  in  nature  his  obedient 
servants.  When  his  enemies  came  against  him  as 
many  as  the  leaves  of  the  forest,  he  put  out  their 
camp-fires,  and  called  upon  the  cold  to  come  out  of 
the  North  in  the  night,  so  that  when  morning  dawned 
they  all  lay  stark  and  still  in  the  embrace  of  death. 
The  similarity  of  this  legend  with  the  history  given  in 
the  Bible  (2  Kings,  xix.  35)  will  at  once  suggest  the 
idea  that  it  has  been  derived  from  that  source.  It  may 
be  so.  But  let  them  come  from  where  they  will,  the 
fancies  which  linger  along  the  Basin  of  Minas  have 
not  all  been  gathered  by  Longfellow;  and  Byron's 
famous  recital  of  the  Destruction  of  Sennacherib  has 
here  been  fairly  paralleled: 


'(:♦ 


Hi 


'  i ' 


42 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


*'  Like  the  leaves  of  the  forest  when  summer  is  green, 
That  host  with  its  banners  at  sunset  was  seen; 
Like  the  leaves  of  the  forest  when  autumn  hath  blown, 
That  host  on  the  morrow  lay  withered  and  strown. 

"  For  the  angel  of  death  spread  his  wings  on  the  blast. 
And  breathed  in  the  face  of  the  foe  as  he  passed; 
And  the  eyes  of  the  sleepers  waxed  deadly  and  chill, 
And  their  hearts  but  once  heaved,  and  forever  grew  still.'  ' 

But  the  mighty  Glooscap  was  not  able  to  cope  with 
the  white  invaders  who  came  into  his  domain.  He 
was  vexed  with  the  English  beyond  all  endurance. 
And  the  end  of  the  matter  was  that  once,  in  a  mighty 
storm,  he  broke  down  his  beaver  dam,  kicked  over  his 
camp-kettle,  which  is  now  known  as  Spencer's  Island, 
turned  his  two  huge  dogs  into  stone,  left  them  stand- 
ing on  the  mountains,  and  took  an  unceremonious  de- 
parture. But  tradition  asserts  that  he  will  one  day 
return,  his  inverted  kettle  will  be  righted,  his  petrified 
dogs  spring  into  life,  his  royal  wigwam  will  be  again 
set  up,  and  his  unbounded  hospitality  dispensed  more 
freely  than  before. 

The  annexed  little  poem,  from  the  pen  of  Matthew 
Richey  Knighc,  is  a  summary  of  the  Micmac  legend: 

Glooscap  is  gone  from  Glooscapweek, 

In  anger  he  has  gone  : 
In  vain  his  sorrowing  people  seek 

Their  chief  on  Blomidon, 


THE  RELIGION  OF  THE  ABORIGINES.  43 

His  kettle  he  has  overthrown, 

It  is  an  island  now  ; 
His  faithful  dogs  are  changed  to  stone 

Upon  the  mountain's  brow. 

Strange  ships  invade  his  beaver-pond, 
Strange  wigwams  line  its  shore  ; 

The  waving  of  his  magic  wand 
Brings  heat  and  cold  no  more. 

The  aged  squaw  who  cooked  for  him, 

The  boy  Abistinaucli, 
Are  buried  'neath  the  basin's  brim. 

All  turned  to  lifeless  rock. 

The  moose  and  caribou  that  came 

Obedient  to  his  call, 
Have  felt  the  white  man's  ruthless  aim 

And  now  have  vanished  all. 

But  Glooscap  will  return :  at  least 

Such  is  the  Micmac's  faith, 
As  day  by  day  he  scans  the  east 

And  marks  the  sun's  bright  path. 

Glooscap  will  come  and  bring  again 

The  Micmac's  golden  age  ; 
Wrest  from  the  grasp  of  stranger  man 

The  Indian's  heritage. 

The  Micmacs  believed  themselves  to  have  sprung 
from  the  ground,  in  which  the  Great  Spirit  planted 
them  as  He  did  the  flowers  and  trees.     Lossing  says, 


:l'i 


M' 


If 


f  ' 


*   ] 


t    \ 


Ill 


i    lii- 


V  ill! 


44 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


i:      i 


"A  Micmac  chief  in  Nova  Scotia  said  to  Colonel 
Cornwallis  of  the  British  army,  a  century  and  a 
quarter  ago:  "The  land  you  sleep  on  is  ours.  We 
sprung  out  of  the  earth  like  the  trees,  the  grass  and 
the  flowers."  "Who  knows?"  he  continues.  "Eth- 
nology, history,  revelation  and  reason  are  all  dumb 
before  the  questioner  concering  these  mysteries.  The 
pious  and  superstitious  parson  Cotton  Mather,  of 
Boston,  who  wrote  more  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago,  took  a  short  method  of  solving  the 
question  by  guessing  that  "the  Devil  decoyed  these 
miserable  salvages  hither,  in  hopes  that  the  Gospel  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  would  never  come  here  to  dis- 
turb or  destroy  his  absolute  empire  over  them." 

Captain  Qartier,  an  early  adventurer  on  the  shores 
of  Acadie,  writes  of  the  Micmacs:  "This  people  hath 
not  belief  of  God  that  my  be  esteemed,  for  they  be- 
lieve in  one  whom  hey  call  Cudouagni,  and  say  that 
he  often  speaketh  to  them,  telling  them  future  events. 
They  believe  also  that  when  they  die  they  go  up  to 
the  stars,  and  afterwards  into  fair  green  fields  full  of 
flowers  and  rare  fruits."  Champlain  says:  "A  sav- 
age told  me  that  they  verily  believe  in  one  God  who 
hati\  created  all  things.  And  when  I  asked  him,  see- 
ing that  they  believe  in  one  only  God,  by  what  means 
he  placed  them  in  this  world,  and  from  whence  they 


THE   RELIGION   OF   THE    ABORIGINES. 


45 


Colonel 
and   a 
•s.     We 
ass  and 
"  Eth- 
i  dumb 
.     The 
ler,    of 
d    and 
tig  the 
these 
jpel  of 
to  dis- 

hores 
hath 

y  be- 
that 

^ents. 

p  to 

II  of 

sav- 

who 

see- 
pans 

hey 


were  come  ?  he  answered  me,  that  after  God  had 
made  all  things  he  took  a  number  of  arrows  and  did 
stick  them  into  the  ground,  from  whence  men  and 
women  sprang  up  who  have  mnltiplied  in  the  world 
until  now," 

This  is  a  variation  of  the  Scriptural  account  yet 
similar  in  that  it  confesses  that  "the  Lord  God  formed 
man  of  the  dust  of  the  ground," 

Mr.  Richard  Brown  in  his  history  of  the  Island  of 
Cape  Breton,  writing  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  E'iere- 
ville,  who  visited  Port  Royal  in  the  year  i;;3(3,  as 
agent  of  a  company  of  merchants  of  Rouen,  and  who 
in  1 710  published  an  account  of  his  voyage,  says, 
"  When  the  French  first  settled  in  Port  Royal,  the  In- 
dians worshiped  the  sun  as  their  God,  which  they 
called  Nichakaminon,  meaning  *  very  great.'  They  ac- 
knowledged him  as  their  maker.  They  also  believed 
in  a  devil  called  Mendon,  whom  they  endeavored  to 
propitiate  by  praying  to  him  to  protect  them  from  evil. 
The  Jesuits  who  came  among  them  at  the  beginning 
of  the  French  period  of  the  history  of  the  country, 
succeeded  in  showing  them  the  folly  of  these  things ; 
but  now,  since  they  have  been  converted  to  Christianity 
for  more  than  a  century,  many  of  their  old  superstitions 
yet  remain." 

If  now  these  early  historians  speak  truly — and  who 


I  I' 


il 


i 


'"  III 

If  -I 


I  V\ 


li         it: 
■  I   '      I    f.l 


'  i' 


It'! 


•;  1 


46 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


can  say  they  do  not  ? — we  may  pertinently  inquire 
what  gain  has  accrued  to  the  Indians  by  accepting  the 
teachings  of  the  Jesuits  ?  It  is  true  they  abstain  from 
meat  on  fast  days,  carry  their  dead  long  distances  to 
lay  them  in  consecrated  ground,  do  penance  and 
pay  tithes  offish  and  game  ;  but  that  their  conceptions 
of  the  truth  are  much  clearer  than  they  were  in  the 
days  of  their  wild  forefathers,  we  may  reasonably 
doubt.  Many  of  their  ancient  superstitions  still  sur- 
vive. To  this  day  they  will  not  allow  a  dying  Micmac 
to  breathe  his  last  on  any  other  than  a  bed  of  spruce 
boughs,  believing  that  no  Indian  can  die  in  peace  or 
go  to  the  happy  hunting-grounds  beyond  the  stars  un- 
less he  die  on  the  kind  of  bed  he  has  been  accustomed 
to  sleep  on  all  his  life.  It  was  under  the  instruction  of 
tiieir  Jesuit  teachers  that,  as  the  allies  of  the  French, 
they  committed  most  of  the  horrible  barbarities  that 
stain  their  name.  They  are  all  RoiTian  Catholics,  but 
all  the  good  qualities  they  now  display  were  shown  as 
well  before  their  conversion.  It  is  difficult  to  show 
what  good  has  come  to  them  from  enrollment  under 
the  holy  father  at  Rome.  But  it  is  from  such  sources 
that  the  Roman  hierarchy  gathers  material  for  statis- 
tics. Yet  what  do  the  Micmacs  know  of  pope? 
He  is  to  them  only  another  Glooscap. 
Acadie  has  many  memories  of  their  former  deeds  of 


THE  RELIGION  OF  THE  ABORIGINES. 


47 


blood  still  lingering  upon  its  islands,  in  its  forests,  and 
along  its  streams.  But  in  blaming  them  for  their  ex- 
cesses we  must  remember  that  they  had  been  taught 
to  look  upon  the  English  as  their  enemies,  and  insti- 
gated to  perpetrate  their  atrocities  by  their  Roman 
Catholic  advisers.  One  night  the  hempen  cables  of 
seven  America  schooners  were  cut  while  their  crews 
slept.  The  vessels  were  lying  at  anchor  near  an  island 
m  Mahone  Bay.  When  they  drifted  in  with  the  rising 
tide,  the  savages  murdered  every  soul  on  board.  Not 
a  man  escaped  to  tell  the  story.  A  large  number  of 
human  bones  have  been  disinterred  there.  On  the 
island  the  murderers  offered  a  white  child  in  sacrifice 
to  their  Mendon,  or  evil  spirit,  and  to  this  day  the 
place,  with  its  bloody  history,  is  known  as  Sacrifice 
Island. 

A  certain  locality  along  the  shore,  between  Mahone 
Bay  and  Gold  River,  was  the  scene  of  so  much 
slaughter  as  to  fasten  upon  it  the  name  of  Murderer's 
Point.  Here  the  crew  of  a  fishing-schooner  once 
landed,  leaving  a  boy  in  charge  of  the  vessel.  From 
his  place  on  board  the  lad  saw  the  savages  murder  his 
companions.  With  all  haste  he  cut  the  moorings  of 
the  schooner,  ran  down  to  Clay  Island  where  other 
Americans  were  fishing,  and  thus  saved  his  life.  On 
Heckman's  Island,  as  late  as   1756,  a   Mr.   Payzant 


(■i, 


i>. » 


I 


I 


4 

IP 


.11 


48 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADlANS. 


i! 


settled  with  his  family.  Seizing  a  boy  on  a  neighbor- 
ing island,  the  Indians  forced  him  to  guide  them  to  the 
spot,  and  there,  when  they  were  come  they  killed  Mr. 
Payzant,  a  servant-maid,  a  child,  and  the  boy  whom 
they  had  compelled  to  act  as  guide.  Mr.  Payzant's 
last  words  were — "  My  heart  is  growing  cold — the 
Indians."  Mrs.  Payzant  and  her  four  children  were 
carried  captives  into  Canada.  The  house  was  burned 
and  a  happy  home  blotted  out  of  existence.  On  their 
way  to  Quebec  the  Indians  killed  two  young  French- 
men, knowing  that  their  scalps,  for  each  of  which  they 
were  paid  a  fixed  sum,  could  not  be  distinguished  from 
those,of  the  British  subjects  after  whom  they  had  been 
sent.  Mrs.  Payzant  was  separated  from  her  children 
for  seven  long  months,  but  through  the  kind  offices  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Bishop,  who  had  more  authority 
among  the  Indians  than  the  officers  of  the  civil  gov- 
erment,  they  were,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  restored 
to  her,  when  '*  she  pressed  them  to  her  bosom,  cov- 
ered them  with  kisses,  and  bathed  them  with  her 
tears." 

In  the  Roman  Catholic  cemetery  at  Chester,  where 
many  of  the  Indians  are  buried,  stands  a  tombstone 
with  the  following  inscription — the  word  "  call "  in  it, 
being  an  allusion  to  the  call  used  in  hunting  the 
moose ; 


!!;!i;; 


'IL 


THK   KKMr.lON   oF  THE   ABORIGIKF.S. 

"In  memory  of  JiiSEl'll  Pknai.I.,  Indian, 
By  Willian  Chearnley,  A.  D.  1859. 


49 


m 


Gone  to  Heath'.^  call  is  Indian  Joe; 

Moose  deer,  rejoice, 
Here,  buried,  rests  your  deadliest  foe," 

Again  wc  repeat,  in  censuring  the  Micmacs  for  their 
barbarities,  it  must  be  remembered  that  they  had  been 
taught  by  the  Jesuits  to  look  upon  the  British  settlers 
and  all  Protestants  as  their  natural  enemies,  and  that 
they  received  their  pay  for  every  atrocity  in  the  silver 
francs  and  louis  d'or  of  a  civilized  and  Christian 
nation. 


■  'I-  ^:i 


:[«* ; 


m 


■iff 


'M 


H 


'm 


m 


i"^ 


CHAPTER  IV. 
THE  MICMACS  OF  TO-DAY. 


n^ 


1'^{IE  age  of  romance,  lingerin*^^  as   it   does   in   the 
pages  of  Cooper,  and  between  the  yellow  covers 
of  a  lower  grade  of  fictitious  literature,  is  past,  and  the 

* 

reality  of  the  facts  of  to-day  is  that  with  which  we 
have  to  deal.  The  Indians  now  remaining  in  Nova 
Scotia,  upon  the  outskirts  of  civilization,  have  little, 
though  still  something,  in  common  with  those  of  the 
by-gone  days.  The  Micmacs  still  retain  among  them- 
selves their  ancient  tribal  relations,  but  the  authority 
of  their  chiefs  is  nothincf  when  it  comes  into  conflct 
with  the  white  man's  law.  They  are  divided  into 
twenty  tribes,  with  as  many  chiefs.  But  chieftains  and 
people  have  been  alike  destroyed  by  the  curse  of  the 
red  man — rum.  Over  the  entrance  of  the  grand  lodge 
of  the  nation  may  be  written  "  IcJiabod^'  for  their  glory 
has  departed  forever.  The  fire-water  of  the  pale-face 
has  made  their  haughty  chieftains  the  subjects  of  de- 
rision even  among  their  own  people.  They  are  with 
out  authority.  The  last  vestige  of  it  has  disappeared. 
The  highest  law  of  the  Indian  is  the  necessity  of  the 

(50} 


TriE    MrCMACS   OF   TO-DAY. 


51 


hour,  and  next  to  this  the  dictum  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  priest.  Experience  is  with  him  the  rule  ot 
life,  the  end  forever  justifying  the  means. 

The  slight  acquaintance  I  had  with  them  formerly, 
gained  as  it  \vas  chiefly  through  highly  and  falsely 
colored  mediums,  has  given  place  to  a  more  exact 
knowledge,  based  on  personal  observation  of  them- 
selves and  their  ways.  The  flaunting  plumes  and  gory 
scalps,  the  deer-skin  robes  and  labored  ornaments,  are 
gone,  and  in  their  stead  we  see  the  Indian  of  to-day 
clad  in  the  cast-off  garments  of  the  charitable,  the  bat- 
tered beaver  and  the  ragged  coat.  The  pitiful  insignia 
of  fallen  greatness,  dear  to  his  barbaric  taste,  the  red 
ribbon  that  encircles  his  hat,  the  epaulettes  of  crimson 
cloth,  the  scarlet  stripes  that  decorate  his  nether  gar- 
ments, are  all  that  remain  to  proclaim  the  haughty 
chieftain's  ancient  nobility — his  kingly  descent.  He  no 
more  hunts  the  buffalo  on  barbed  steed;  no  more  with 
stealthy  tread  pursues  the  object  of  his  sworn  revenge; 
no  more  congeals  the  blood  of  his  terror-stricken  vic- 
tim  with  the  fiendish  whoop  of  war. 

His  is  to-day  the  quietest  of  quiet  lives.  The 
modern  Indian  erects  his  wigwam  after  the  manner  of 
his  fathers,  but  holds  no  more  therein  the  council  of 
war  wi'li  illustrious  sachem  or  powerful  brave.  He 
sits  dowi;  quietly  in  his  tent  to  braid  baskets  or  manu- 


I 


I 


I    ' 


■1^ 


;!i 


♦wl 


\'^.   i  ' 


I ')'    . ! 


r 


52 


ACADIK   AND    THE   ACADIANS. 


facture  simple  wooden  table-ware;  he  quietly  sleeps 
and  dreams  of  happy  hunting  grounds,  or  torments  his 
soul  with  visions  of  an  equally  fantastic  and  imaginary 
purgatory.  When  the  baskets  have  been  finished  he 
loads  them  upon  the  backs  of  his  wife  and  children, 
and  leads  the  procession  to  the  nearest  village.  With 
the  proceeds  of  their  sale  he  procures  sufficient  fire- 
water to  fill  himself  and  his  black  bottle,  and  with  a 
light  heart  tramps  back  to  his  lodge,  leaving  his 
partner  to  procure  such  food  as  she  can  buy  with  what 
remains,  or  beg  upon  the  way.  Arrayed  in  the  latest 
style  of  government  blanket,  she  returns  to  find  her 
lord  in  a  state  of  hilarity  or  rage,  as  the  case  may  be, 
ready  to  declare  war  or  conclude  peace,  to  beat  her 
or  not,  as  the  mad  impulse  may  seize  him;  but  beyond 
his  own  camp-fire  his  voice  is  heard  no  more  for  peace 
or  war. 

And  when  consumption  and  bad  rum  have  under- 
mined his  constitution  and  broken  down  his  strength, 
he  quietly  .stretches  himself  on  his  bed  of  spruce 
boughs  on  the  floor  of  his  damp,  unwholesome  dwell- 
ing, coughs  up  his  life-blood,  and  dies.  Mis  neighbors 
gather  from  far  and  near,  drink  more  bad  rum  to  his 
memory,  and  then  bear  his  body  to  its  last  long  home 
in  the  consecrated  ground.  Is  he  betl  ,r  off  than  he 
was  of  old  ?     God  knows.     It  does  not  look  so.     And 


THE    MI  CM  ACS    OF    TO- DAY. 


53 


} 


if  he  be  worse  now  than  then,  somebody  must  be  to 
blame.  But  if  his  condition  now  is  better  than  it  was 
of  old  his  former  life  was  one  too  sad  for  language  to 
portray.  Whatever  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  may 
have  done  to  benefit  his  soul,  it  has  standing  against  it 
a  heavy  debt  account,  in  what  the  vices  of  civilization 
and  the  impositions  of  the  white  man  have  done  to  the 
injury  of  his  body. 

Too  proud  to  beg,  the  Indian  throws  that  burden  on 
his  squaw ;  too  lazy  to  work  so  long  as  absolute  and 
inmiediate  necessity  does  not  compel,  improvident  to 
the  last  degree  if  ever  prosperity  does  come  his  way, 
he  leads  a  miserable  existence  upon  the  ragged  edge 
of  starvation,  dies  a  wretched  death,  and  the  world 
movcs  on  without  him,  as  heedless  as  though  he  had 
never  existed.  And  the  prospect  before  his  children 
is  that  they  will  follow  in  his  footsteps,  one  degree 
lower  in  the  descending  scale.  Who  envies  the  noble 
red  man  ?  Not  one.  His  glory  has  departed,  and  the 
romantic  tales  of  his  wild  life  and  valorous  deeds  in 
the  time  of  old,  but  lend  a  shade  of  deeper  gloom  to 
the  misery  of  his  present  state. 

Those  with  whom  I  came  in  contact  are  sucli  as 
have  been  here  depicted.  They  work  a  little  at  basket 
making,  at  lumbering,  and  about  the  saw-mills,  hunt 
a  little,  fish   in  the  fishing  season,   beg,  borrow,  and 


'Mril 


'1 


i\ 


II 


:W 


h 


'i 


\H 


\i^ 


,f 


m 


in 


:'i  '  I 


I    I, 


54 


.\C.\I)I1';    AM)    IIIE    ACADIANS. 


sonic  way  find  whatever  else  they  get  to  keep  soul  and 
body  together. 

Some  time  ago  John  Barnaby,  one  of  their  chiefs, 
accompanied  by  Alexander  Marshall,  another  Indian, 
visited  the  Indian  Department  in  Halifax,  in  order  to 
lay  before  the  proper  authorities  a  grievance  in  con- 
nection with  their  fisheries  in  the  Restigouche  River. 
They  complained  that  their  nets  had  been  seized  and 
their  fish  taken.  But  their  mission  was  fi-uitless,  as 
they  had  unwittingly  come  in  conflict  with  the  Fi  h- 
eries  and  Game  Act  of  the  Dominion.  The  untutored 
natives  do  not  have  almanacs,  and  if  they  had  would 
not  be  able  to  read  them ;  beside  which,  not  knowing 
anything  about  the  months,  they  could  not  tell  when 
the  prohibition  against  fishing  with  nets  and  seines 
was  in  force.  They  still  compute  time  by  the  changes 
of  the  moon  as  their  fathers  did,  and  learn  the  white 
man's  ways  and  laws,  as  in  this  instance,  only  by  sad 
experience. 

But  to  the  white  man's  ways  and  customs  they  do 
not  always  tamely  submit  when  native  cunning  will 
secure  them  an  advantage.  One  of  them  went  into  a 
store  in  the  settlement  known  as  New  Ross,  Lunen- 
burg county,  and  purchased  some  *^'>Dacco.  Not  hav- 
ing the  money  wherewith  to  pay  for  it,  he  asked  to 
leave  his  gun  for  a  short  time  as  a  pledge  for  its  pay- 


THE    MICMACS    OF   TO-DAY. 


55 


ment.  The  request  was  granted  and  the  Indian  de- 
parted, taking  the  tobacco  and  leaving  the  gun.  A 
day  or  two  afterward  he  rushed  into  the  store  appar- 
ently under  great  excitement,  and  pointing  outward, 
shouted  '*  Bear !  bear !  gun!  gun!  "  The  shop-keeper, 
taken  off  his  guard,  not  wishing  to  deprive  him  of  the 
means  of  capturing  the  animal,  and  with  visions  of 
possible  savory  bear-steaks  dancing  before  his  eyes,  at 
once  caught  the  infection  and  made  all  haste  to  hand 
him  the  gun.  The  wily  red  hunter  took  it  and  rushed 
out,  but  whether  the  bear  ate  him,  or  whether  he  is 
still  pursuing  the  bear,  we  have  no  means  of  knowing, 
as  neither  has  been  seen  or  heard  of  in  the  neighbor- 
hood since. 

As  has  been  already  stated,  the  aggregate  number 
of  Indians  in  the  Dominion  is  apparently  increasing; 
but  the  increase  may  be  due  to  the  fact  that  many 
Sioux  and  Blackfeet  have  recently  entered  Canada 
from  the  United  States.  The  number  in  the  Province 
of  Nova  Scotia  varies  at  different  times,  and  is  put 
down  at  from  thirteen  hundred  to  two  thousand.  But 
they  are  passing  away.  Not  many  generations  hence, 
is  it  safe  to  predict,  they  will  be  known  only  in  history 
and  in  the  names  which  they  have  given  to  the  lakes 
and  hills  and  rivers  where  they  roved.  Here,  as  in 
many  other  localities  where  they  once  held  absolute 


I ' 


if 


I  'I, 


s :: 


p  J 


i  ■ 
) 

I 


56 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


opping  off  to 


control,  they  are  losing  their  hold  and  d, 
fade  mto  obhVion.     But 

The  mem§)ry  of  the  Red  Man, 
Still  lingers  like  a  spell 

On  many  a  stonnswept  headland, 
On  many  a  leafy  dell. 

The  memory  of  the  Red  Man, 

How  can  it  pass  away, 
Wiiile  their  names  of  music  linger 

On  mountain,  stream  and  bay  ? 

A.  we  find  then  so  wc  leave  then,,  soiry  that  the 
c!rean,s  of  our  youthful  days  should  have  been  dis- 
pelled by  such  a  rude  awakening  to  tl,e  prosaic  reality 


i'! 


:  off  to 


CHAPTER  V. 


JIM. 


t  the 
1  dis- 
mal ity. 


JIM  PENALL  was  his  name.  It  is  fair  to  presume, 
liis  parents  havin^^  been  good  Roman  Catholics, 
that  he  had  been  christened  James  ;  but  nobody  ever 
thou£,dit  of  calling  him  James,  any  more  than  they 
tliought  of  calling  him  Mister,  The  fact  is,  nobody 
would  have  known  who  James  or  Mister  Penall  was; 
but  everybody  who  knew  him  at  all  knew  just  who 
was  meant  by  "Jim."  His  family  name  was,  in  his 
native  language,  Agdamoncton.  He  came  of  a  family 
at  one  time  numerous,  and  he  still  had  brothers  and 
sisters  many  in  the  Gold  River  district. 

When  I  saw  him  first  he  was  marching  at  the  head 
of  a  little  detachment  that  moved,  Indian  file,  along 
the  highway — first  Jim,  "  Indian  Jim,"  as  some  called 
him,  tall  and  graceful ;  then  his  wife,  with  a  papoose 
bundled  on  her  back  in  an  old  shawl,  with  its  arms 
clinging  to  her  and  its  head  swaying  to  the  mother's 
step  as  though  to  the  imminent  danger  of  dislocating 
the  youngster's  neck ;  and  then  in  the  rear  a  little  girl 
and  a  little  boy,  straying  off  now  and  again  to  look  for 

(57) 


^^- 


I 


i! 


^% 


m 


^1    ' 


I  II' 


58 


ACADIE    AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


daisies  in  the  i^rass.  There  was  something  pleasant 
in  his  manner  and  respectful  in  his  behavior  in  this 
casual  meeting,  and  I  afterward  often  thought  of  him. 
But  I  didn't  know  him  then,  and  if  that  had  been  all, 
would  no  doubt  soon  have  forgotten  him. 

But  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  the  call  of  duty 
brought  me  along  a  lonely  by-way,  a  narrow  road 
through  the  woods  and  barrens,  from  the  harbor  to  the 
top  of  the  hill,  and  there,  under  the  beech-trees,  I  saw 
a  new  wigwam.  It  was  located  in  a  pretty  spot.  The 
land-locked  harbor  stretched  to  the  eastward  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill,  its  placid  waters  dotted  with  here  and 
there  a  fishing-schooner  and  some  smaller  craft :  all 
around  were  the  white-barked  beech-trees,  interspersed 
with  dark  hemlock,  spruce  and  hackmatack  ;  and  not 
far  in  the  rear  purled  a  brook  which  flowed  unceas- 
ingly from  a  lake  on  the  other  end  of  the  hill,  wherein 
the  wild  ducks  bred.  The  rabbits  haunted  the  covers 
of  the  bush  on  the  barrens,  so  Jim  had  at  his  com- 
mand fish,  flesh  and  fowl:  for  it  was  Jim's  new  wig- 
wam that  curled  its  smoke  so  peacefully  in  the  midst 
of  this  sylvan  scene.  He  deserved  to  have  credit 
eiven  him  for  havini^  an  artist's  taste  and  a  hunter's 
judgment  in  the  selection  of  his  location. 

I  then  sought  for  a  reason  why  I  should  go  to 
visit   him.      I    did   not   wish   to   appear   intrusive  by 


^'M 


JIM. 


59 


going  without  a  reason,  and  was  glad  when  I  discov- 
ered that  there  was  need  at  home  for  a  basket.  I 
made  the  ordering  of  it  my  excuse  for  calhng.  I  was 
received  with  the  grace  of  a  nobleman,  though  there 
was  in  the  politeness  of  my  host  an  admixture  of 
Indian  hauteur  that  showed  the  blue  blood  of  the 
Algonquin  chieftains,  for  the  Agdamonctons  had  royal 
blood  in  their  veins. 

Jim's  wigwam  was  not  large,  but  it  was  clean — 
which  is  more  than  can  be  truthfully  said  of  all  Indian 
wigwams;  or  for  that  matter,  even  of  the  white  man's 
'  more  pretentious  habitations.  It  boa.sted  some  modern 
conveniences  in  the  midst  of  its  barbarous  furnishings, 
notably  a  camp-chest  which  served  as  a  chair  for  his 
visitors,  and  two  windows,  one  on  each  side  of  the 
lodge,  each  consisting  of  one  pane  of  glass  eight 
inches  by  ten,  set  with  tacks  in  the  birch  bark.  As  I 
sat  on  the  camp-chest  and  held  converse  with  this 
citizen  of  the  wildwood,  his  wife  and  children  sat  on 
the  floor  in  dutiful  silence.  She  had  been  once,  no 
doubt,  a  beauty,  and  traces  of  her  comeliness  still 
lingered  in  her  eyes  and  femenine  features.  The  chil- 
dren looked  healthful  and  vigorous,  but  the  baby  in 
its  cot  of  twisted  withes  was  evidently  sick.  An  Es- 
quimaux dog,  upon  which  the  owner  looked  with 
unconcealed  tenderness  and  admiration,  was  playing 


m 


t   t 


.1 


i 


'n 


11 


'  ll 


!h 


1)1 
I 
1 

I?      , 
II 


i    il 


60 


ACADIK   AND  THK  ACAlDtAKS. 


among  the  bushes  at  the  entrance  to  the  tent.  He 
came  in  once,  but  was  not  permitted  to  remain.  He 
possessed  a  peculiarly  villainous  face,  and  when  Jim 
turned  him  out  he  remarked  half-apologetically,  *' He's 
a  half  of  a  wolf,  sir."  After  tlie  shape  and  dimensions 
». "  the  basket  had  been  agreed  upon  and  the  time  of 
its  delivery  arranged,  I  left. 

The  next  time  I  came  that  way  I  called.  There 
was  no  sign  of  a  basket  or  of  basket-making.  A 
blight  had  fallen  on  the  family.  Jim  was  taciturn  and 
gloomy.  The  baby  was  gone.  The  poor  little  thing 
had  died,  and  he  had  carried  its  body  in  his  arms  to 
the  consecrated  ground  and  laid  it  in  the  grave  him- 
self, while  his  wife  repeated  over  it  such  parts  of  the 
burial  service  as  she  could.  The  burial-place  was 
miles  away,  and  there  was  no  priest  to  perform  the 
service;  he  came  only  occasionally. 

A  few  days  later  I  came  that  way  again,  and  found 
the  wigwam  deserted.  A  robin  sat  on  the  ridge-pole 
piping  a  mournful  song,  and  the  crickets  chirped 
among  the  chinks  of  the  bark. 

Nobody  knew  where  the  Indian  family  had  gone. 
Doubtless  the  sad  memories  which  clung  to  the  spot 
where  his  babe  had  died,  had  proven  too  much  for 
Jim  and  caused  his  departure ;  but  where  he  now  had 
pitched  his  moving  tent  I  was  unable  to  learn.     I  was 


k  : 


jlM. 


6i 


He 
He 


^orry  to  lose  all  traces  of  him  sc  suddenly,  now  that  I 
was  becoming  acquainted. 

But  one  day,  some  months  later,  I  overtook  a 
strange  procession  upon  the  road ;  a  cart  with  two 
wheels  and  no  springs,  drawn  by  a  very  lean  horse, 
and  seated  in  the  cart  with  their  arms  about  each  other 
to  keep  from  falling  out,  five  Indian  women,  and  the 
driver  my  old  friend  Jim.  Several  Indian  men  were 
walking  along.  As  I  approached  them,  I  was  busy 
trying  to  divine  the  meaning  of  the  strange  demon- 
stration. An  idea  occurred.  There  had  been  some 
excitement  in  the  town  from  which  they  were  coming, 
over  the  opening  of  a  new  railroad.  So  when  I  came 
near,  I  accosted  them,  "Been  over  to  see  the  railroad, 
Jim?"     "  My  brother  is  dead,  sir."     It  was  a  funeral. 

Consumption  was  doing  'ts  work  with  the  poor 
fellow  himself.  His  cheeks  were  hollow.  His  eyes 
were  sunken  and  bright.  He  had  gone  to  the  other 
Indians  with  his  family.  The  next  I  heard  of  him  he 
was  dead.     He  had  gone  to  his  babe  and  his  brother. 

According  to  the  light  he  had,  he  was  a  believer. 
Requiescat  hi  pace. 


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CIIAPTKR  VI. 


SABLE   ISLAND. 


TIll'^  name  has  a  sinister  sound  It  suggests  the 
dark  emblems  of  woe.  And  no  spot  of  similar 
size  upon  the  earth's  surface,  unless  it  be  perhaps  tlie 
island  of  St.  Paul  in  the  jaws  of  the  gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence, has  superior  claim  on  account  of  the  horrors 
which  encompass  it,  to  be  clcJied,  as  to  its  name,  in 
the  habiliments  of  woe.  As  being  the  spot  upon 
which  the  first  aUempt  at  settlement  in  Acadie  w'as 
made,  it  deserves  a  chapter  of  itself. 

Sable  Island  is  one  of  the  many  islands  which  dot 
the  Nova  Scotia  coast.  Norwegian  legends  ascribe  its 
discovery  to  Bjorn  Herjulfsson  in  the  year  986.  But 
for  six  centuries  after  that  date  no  mention  of  it 
occurs  in  any  historical  record.  The  first  authentic 
notice  of  the  Isle  of  Mourning  is  that  which  comes  to 
notice  in  connection  with  the  attempt  at  settlement 
made  by  the  Baron  de  Lery  in  the  year  15  18.  But 
when  he  touched  there  the  season  was  far  advanced, 
and  as  he  had  no  time  to  construct  shelter  for  his  peo- 
ple, he  landed  some  cattle  and  returned  to   France. 

(62) 


SABLE    ISr.AND. 


('S 


sts  the 
similar 
aps  tb.c 
t.  Law- 
liorrors 


ame,  in 


upon 
ie  was 

ch  dot 
ribe  its 

But 

1  of  it 

thentic 

mes  to 

enient 

But 

anced, 

;s  peo- 

rance. 


Upon  this  circumstance  the  French  afterward  laid 
much  stress,  when  arj^uinjT  with  England,  on  their 
claim  to  prior  occupation  of  Acadie.  Strange  talcs 
are  told  of  the  benefit  which  shipwrecked  mariners 
have  derived  from  this  stocking  of  the  island,  ami 
many  a  perishing  sailor  has  invoked  blessings  upon 
those  who  thus  provided  him  with  the  means  of  sus- 
taining life.  The  Portuguese  also  are  said  to  have 
sent  some  cattle  at  a  very  early  period  for  the  relief  of 
those  escaping  from  wrecks.  They  increased  'n  num- 
ber rapidly,  but  are  now  extinct,  having  been  slaugh- 
tered by  worthless,  avaricious  men  for  their  hides  and 
tallow. 

The  situation  of  Sable  Island  is  such  as  to  make  it 
a  constant  menace  to  shipping  in  that  quarter  of  the 
ocean.  The  currents  of  wind  and  water  which  pluy 
their  titanic  games  about  it  make  it  at  once  the  Scylla 
and  Charybdis  of  navigation.  Almost  in  the  main 
line  of  ocean  travel  between  Europe  and  America  it 
lies,  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  east  of  Halifax,  be- 
tween the  stern  Acadian  shore  and  the  Grand  Bank 
of  Newfoundland.  Norie's  Navigation  gives  the  posi- 
tion of  the  eastern  end  as  43°  58'  15^'  north  latitude 
and  59°  46'  i/'  west  longitude.  It  is  the  great 
wrecking-ground  of  the  North  Atlantic,  the  dread  of 
such  as  "go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,"  th.c  horror  of 
navigators: 


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vn 


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i       'I 


64  ACADll'.    AM)    THE    ACADIANS. 

•'The  Atlantic's  charnel-house,  most  desolate  and  drear, 
A  place  none  love,  though  wandering  thousands  fear." 

The  island  is  about  eighteen  miles  long  by  one  and 
a  quarter  broad  in  the  middle.  It  is  of  a  crescent 
shape,  tapering  at  each  end,  especially  the  eastern,  to  a 
narrow  point.  The  greater  part  of  its  interior  is  cov- 
ered with  a  salt  lake,  from  five  to  twelve  feet  in  depth. 
The  approach  from  the  northward  gives  the  appear- 
ance of  a  range  of  sand-hills,  almost  white,  contrasting 
finely  with  the  deep  blue  of  the  all-surrounding  sea. 
From  the  southern  approach,  the  coast  line  appears 
unbroken  and  lying  low  on  the  horizon  at  the  western 
end.  On  a  closer  inspection,  many  of  the  hills  are 
seen  to  be  eroded  by  the  waves  so  as  to  present  steep 
cliffs  to  the  sea;  in  other  parts,  they  are  covered  with 
coarse  grass,  and  defended  by  a  broad  beach.  This, 
however,  cannot  be  reached  without  passing  over 
ridges  of  sand,  covered  by  only  a  few  feet  of  water, 
and  lying  parallel  with  the  shore  at  a  distance  not 
exceeding  one-third  of  a  mile.  These  form  heavy 
breakers,  dangerous  to  pass  in  a  boat  when  any  sea  is 
running.  The  landing  is,  in  fact,  generally  impracti- 
cable on  the  south  side,  excepting  after  several  days 
of  northerly  wind.  On  the  north  side  boats  can  land 
only  in  southerly  winds  and  after  several  successive 
days  of  fine  weather.     The  hills  at  the  eastern  part  of 


t1 


SABLE    ISLAND. 


65 


the  Island  average  sixty  or  seventy  feet  in  heiglit. 
The  whole  area  of  the  place  is  composed  of  a  coarse 
(|uality  of  white  sand,  coarser  than  the  soundings  in 
the  ocean  about  it,  but  sufficiently  fine  to  be  easily 
driven  by  the  winds,  which  have  a  wonderful  effect  in 
altering  the  topographical  features  of  the  land,  large 
hills  being  rapidly  formed  and  again  as  rapidly  re- 
moved, A  few  large  stones  are  found  scattered  about, 
but  probably  only  such  as  have  been  brought  there  in 
ballast  by  wrecked  vessels. 

On  all  the  island  there  is  an  entire  absence  of  any- 
thing deserving  the  name  of  soil.  No  cultivation 
whatever  is  carried  on.  The  sole  productions  are 
those  which  nature  brings  forth  without  the  help  of 
man ;  namely,  two  kinds  of  grasses,  wild  peas,  straw- 
berries and  cranberries.  Of  the  latter,  the  quantity  is 
considerable.  Many  of  them  find  their  way  into  the 
Halifax  markets,  and  their  quality  is  so  fine  that  the 
llaligonians  deem  cranberry  sauce  made  from  Sable 
Islan:'.  Herries  the  best  in  the  world.  There  are  no 
trees,  no  fields,  no  fences,  no  roads ;  all  is  a  howling 
waste  of  sand,  and  when  the  winter  storms  career  over 
it,  a  bleaker  spot  could  not  be  imagined.  The  fuel 
which  supplies  the  wants  of  the  few  inhabitants,  is  pro- 
cured from  drift-wood  and  the  timbers  of  the  wrecks 

with  which  every  part  of  the  island  is  strewn. 
5 


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II 


66 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


The  wreck  chart  of  Sable  Island,  published  by  the 
Department  of  Marine  and  Fisheries,  shows  how 
dangerous  a  spot  it  has  been  to  navigators.  The  posi- 
tion of  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  wrecks  is 
marked  and  known.  The  barren  sands  are  all  dotted 
over  with  their  bleaching  bones.  What  tales  of  suffer- 
ing, sorrow  and  distress  those  bleaching  bones  could 
tell  if  they  could  speak !  The  chart  shows  the  last 
resting-place  of  three  "  floating  palaces,"  together  with 
numerous  full-rigged  ships,  barques,  brigs,  brigan- 
tines  and  schooners ;  more  than  one  hundred  and  fiftv 
on  eighteen  miles  of  coast.     Think  of  it ! 

In  1583  the  first  disaster  occurred  on  Sable  Island 
of  which  there  is  historical  record.  On  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  August  in  that  year  the  "  Delight,"  a  vessel 
belonging  to  an  expedition  sent  out  from  England 
under  command  of  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  went  ashore 
in  a  fog  on  the  western  end  of  the  island.  By  this 
melancholy  accident  one  hundred  lives  were  lost,  only 
fourteen  of  the  crew  being  saved.  Those  who  escaped 
made  their  way  to  the  main  land,  and  it  is  to  them 
that  we  are  indebted  for  our  first  accurate  knowledge 
of  the  awful  spot.  Attention  was  at  that  time  called 
to  it  and  from  then  onward  it  began  to  figure  in  his- 
tory as  the  graveyard  of  the  North  Atlantic.  "  Davy 
Jones'  Locker "  is  a  common  name  for  it  am^ng  the 


frt 


m 


SABLE   ISLAND. 


67 


m 


sailors.  But  in  history,  apart  from  its  gruesome  asso- 
ciations, it  owes  its  importance  to  the  fact  that  upon 
its  hills  of  sand  the  first  settlement  of  Acadie  was  at- 
tempted. 

The  climate  is  said  to  be  healthful,  in  spite  of  the 
frequent  fogs  and  consequent  humidity  of  the  atmo- 
sphere. Notwithstanding  the  unstable  and  barren 
nature  of  this  ridge  of  sand-downs — for  it  is  nothing 
more — it  was  thought  worthy  of  settlement  by  the 
French  before  they  attempted  to  plant  a  colony  on 
any  part  of  the  continent  of  America.  This  was  prob- 
ably because  of  its  location  being  so  advantageous  for 
offensive  or  defensive  operations  off  the  coast  of  the 
neighboring  mainland.  But  whether  their  attempt 
was  intended  to  be  a  permanent  or  only  temporary 
settlement,  preparatory  to  removal  to  the  continent, 
has  always  been  a  matter  of  dispute  among  historians. 
Gilbert's  men,  who  were  lost  there  in  1583,  were  in- 
tending colonists  from  England. 

In  1 598,  forty  French  convicts  were  landed  on  the 
island  by  the  Marquis  de  la  Roche.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Nova  Scotia  proper,  from  which  part  of  the 
Dominion  it  is  distant,  in  a  straight  line,  about  sixty- 
five  miles.  It  is  probable  that  he  intended  to  return 
for  the  men,  as  such  an  inhuman  act  as  to  leave  them 
without  any  means  of  sustenance  whatever,  either  to 


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68 


ACADIE  AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


starve  or  find  the  means  ,f  sustaining  life  as  best  they 
could  on  the  barren  sands,  is  almost  inconceivable. 
On  the  mainland  the  Marquis  effected  nothing;  and, 
being  unable  from  stress  of  weather  to  deliver  the 
wretches  he  had  left  behind,  he  returned  to  France, 
where  he  is  said  to  have  died  soon  after  of  a  broken 
heart.  These  convicts  must  inevitably  have  perished 
for  lack  of  food  but  for  the  progeny  of  the  cattle  left 
by  the  Baron  de  Lery  eighty  years  before.  Seven 
years  after  their  abandonment,  Henry  IV.  of  France 
sent  out  a  vessel  to  convey  them  back,  but  only  twelve 
of  the  unfortunate  people  could  be  found.  After  their 
abandonment  they  fought  among  themselves  ;  scurvy, 
want  and  exposure  did  the  rest.  When  they  were  res- 
cued they  more  resembled  wild  animals  than  men. 
They  were  clothed  in  rude  coverings  of  seal-skins, 
their  beards  and  hair  were  matted  in  long  solid  masses, 
and  their  gaunt,  hungry  appearance  left  in  them  but 
little  resemblance  to  human  beings.  On  their  arrival 
in  France,  the  king  had  them  presented  before  the 
royal  court.  They  were  allowed  to  relate  their  terrible 
story,  which,  with  their  haggard  appearance  and  the 
memory  of  what  they  had  already  endured,  so  moved 
him  that  he  granted  them  all  a  full  pardon  for  past 
offences  and  gave  them  each  a  present  of  fifty  golden 
crowns.     Recent  visitors  to  the  island  report  that  the 


vc 
Gl 


SABLE    ISLAND. 


69 


vestiges  of  their  former  abodes,  known  as  the  "  French 
Gardens,"  may  still  be  seen. 

As  the  cattle  were  too  much  cf  a  temptation  to  the 
avarice  of  man  to  allow  them  to  exist,  each  successive 
stocking-  of  the  Island  having  been  destroyed,  other 
animals  were  introduced  at  various  times.  Rabbits 
were  sent  on,  and  these  have  multiplied  with  astonish- 
iiii^  rapidity.  During  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth 
centuries  the  Island  was  overrun  with  black  foxes,  but 
as  their  fur  is  of  the  most  valuable  quality,  they  have 
long  since  been  exterminated.  Contemporary  with  the 
black  fox  was  the  great  walrus,  which  have  also  de- 
serted, though  still  occasionally  they  wander  back  to 
their  old  haunts.  Their  huge  tusks  may  be  seen  to- 
day half  buried  in  the  sand.  Aquatic  birds  in  great 
numbers  frequent  the  place,  and  also  seals  of  the 
species  PJwcas  tirsina,  so  that  the  sufferings  of  wrecked 
mariners  from  hunger  have  not  been  so  great  as  might 
be  imagined. 

But  the  animal  which  gives  life  to  the  scen'^ry  and 
is  par  excellence  the  lord  of  the  downs  to-day,  is  the 
Sable  Island  pony.  The  ancestors  of  these  ponies 
were  placed  here,  when  or  by  whom  no  one  knows. 
In  separate  herds  of  from  ten  to  fifty  they  wander 
about,  each  herd  having  a  separate  pasture  and  each 
marshaled  by  an  old  stallion.     This  chief  of  the  band 


ill  ♦ 

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70 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


1       1 


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is  conspicuous  by  reason  of  the  length  and  luxuriance 
of  his  mane,  which  rolls  in  tangled  masses  over  his 
flashing  eye  and  delicate  ear  down  even  to  his  fore- 
arm. As  he  collects  his  straggling  mares  and  foals, 
keeping  them  well  bunched  on  the  approach  of  strang- 
ers, his  time  seems  to  be  half  occupied  with  tossing  his 
mane  from  his  eyes.  He  stands  boldly  facing  the 
intruder  while  the  herd  retreats  at  a  gallop,  but  if 
pressed  by  the  enemy  he  too  retreats  in  their  rear. 
Me  brooks  no  divided  allegiance,  and  many  a  fierce 
battle  is  fought  by  contending  chieftains  for  the  honor 
of  the  herd.  In  form  these  animals  resemble  the  wild 
horses  of  all  countries :  being  marked  by  the  large 
head,  thick  shaggy  mane,  low  withers,  paddling  gait, 
and  sloping  quarters  of  the  mustang  of  the  prairies 
and  the  wild  horse  of  the  Ukraine.  The  annual  drive 
or  round-up  usually  results  in  the  whole  Island  being 
.swept  from  end  to  end,  and  a  kicking,  plunging,  snort- 
ing, terrified  mass  of  horse-flesh  being  driven  into  a 
large  pound,  from  which  several  dozens  are  selected, 
lassoed  and  exported.  The  occasion  is  one  which 
affords  fine  sport,  wild  riding,  and  plenty  of  falls. 

But  the  stirring  life  of  the  ponies  is  only  a  foil  to 
show  up  by  contrast  the  marks  of  desolation  and  death 
on  every  hand  appearing.  The  wreck  chart,  beginning 
with  the  year  1802,  shows  the  position  of  the  "  Packet " 


SABLE    ISLAND. 


71 


and  the  "  Union,"  two  fine  ships  lost  in  that  year  near 
the  western  end,  and  the  "  Hannah  "  and  "  Eliza,"  on 
one  of  the  bars  at  the  eastern  point.  Then  follows  the 
schooner  "  Dolphin  "  (1806),  the  brig  *•  Spring  "  (1807), 
the  "Adamant"  (1810),  "  Fortune  "  (181 1),  and  so  on 
through  the  long  dreary  catalogue.  A  large  transport 
ship,  the  "  Princess  Alice,"  also  lies  buried  amid  the 
sand  of  the  south  coast,  being  lost  in  1802.  The 
wrecks  continue  up  to  recent  times.  The  barque 
"  Rolgeley  "  and  the  ship  "  Yorkshire,"  were  lost  off 
the  eastern  point  in  1882,  while  the  ribs  of  the  .steam- 
ships "Georgia"  (1863),  "  Ephesus "  (1866),  and 
"State  of  Virginia"  (1879),  are  submerged  close  to 
the  western  point. 

In  1 80 1  the  Parliament  of  Nova  Scotia,  to  which 
Province  Sable  Island  belongs,  passed  an  Act  em- 
powering the  Governor  to  make  provision  for  main- 
taining some  families  on  the  island  to  afford  relief  to 
those  cast  away  upon  its  shores.  This  was  the  be- 
L,nnning  of  the  efficient  Life  Saving  Station  at  present 
established  there.  About  1830  the  British  Govern- 
ment, on  the  representation  of  Sir  James  Kempt,  added 
^400  a  year  to  the  amount  annually  granted  to  the 
support  of  this  humane  and  most  necessary  establish- 
ment. To  show  how  much  this  dreadful  island  is 
feared   by  both    governments  of  the  North   Atlantic 


m 


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PJpi^r^'i 

It     11       :f    ?■'''!  i 

1                f 

i' 

i  I 


I,  .!■ 


72 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIAN?^. 


coasts,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  American  Govern- 
ment, during  the  War  of  1812,  issued  a  general  order 
forbidding  its  armed  vessels  to  intercept  or  injure  any 
vessel  bound  to  or  from  Sable  Island. 

The  Life  Saving  Service  proposed  in  1801  was  be- 
gun in  1804,  when  Edward  Hodson  was  appointed 
superintendent.  He  remained  on  the  island  for  over 
thirty  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Captain  Joseph 
Darby,  whose  career  as  superintendent  was  extended 
over  a  similar  period,  after  which  he  was  succeeded  by 
Superintendent  Dodd.  Captain  Darby  had  a  vast 
fund  of  anecdote  and  story  of  the  wrecks  he  had  seen 
and  of  his  wild  and  dreadful  experiences.  He  made 
careful  observations  during  the  period  of  his  official 
career,  and  contributed  an  excellent  account  to  Blunt's 
Coast  Pilot,  which  beyond  doubt  was  the  means  of 
saving  much  property  and  many  precious  lives  by 
making  the  seafaring  world  better  acquainted  with  the 
mysterious  currents  which  bore  the  unsuspecting  mar- 
iner upon  the  shifting  shoals  of  the  island.  In  earl}- 
days  the  seamen  thought  there  was  some  magnetic 
attraction  about  the  place,  because  by  far  the  greater 
number  of  vessels  went  ashore  to  the  southward,  where 
the  water  deepens  gradually  out  for  so  many  miles 
that  it  would  seem  almost  impossible  for  any  vessel 
using  ordinary  precaution  to  go  ashore  on  that  side, 


m 


SABLK    ISLAND. 


73 


Govern- 
'al  order 
ijurc  any 

was  be- 

ppointcd 
for  over 
1  Josepli 
extended 
ceded  by 
1    a    vast 
had  seen 
ic  made 
>   official 
o  Blunt's 
neans  of 
lives   by 
with  the 
ting  mar- 
In   earl)- 
magnetic 
!  greater 
•d,  where 
;iy  miles 
y  vessel 
lat  side, 


either  of  the  island  or  its  bars.  Vessels  went  on  shore 
in  the  fo^r  ^^  often  in  fine  as  in  stormy  weather.  J^it 
the  solution  of  the  curious  fact  is  that  in  most  of  these 
cases  the  vessels  wore  thought  to  be  far  to  the  east- 
ward of  the  island  (which  lies  1^^  by  S.  i^  S.)  when 
they  ran  ashore  on  it,  having  been  set  to  westward  by 
the  currents.  The  sjcneral  tendency  of  the  currents 
between  Newfoundland  and  Sable  Island,  though 
modified  by  the  various  banks  over  and  between  which 
they  flow,  is  to  the  westward.  The  winds,  both  pres- 
ent and  at  a  ilistancc,  render  the  currents  inconstant 
and  irrefTular  both  in  strength  and  direction. 

Ca[)trin  Darby  described  the  storms  on  the  island 
as  sometimes  horrible.  The  island  trembles  and 
quivers  as  the  mighty  ocean  strikes  and  breaks  along 
its  whole  length.  The  wind  whirls  the  yeasty  spume 
of  water  over  its  highest  point.  The  sand  is  swej)t 
furiously  along,  and  whirled  round  the  liills.  The 
hills  themselves  arc  sometimes  removed.  The  bars 
shift,  and  the  whole  vibrating  mass  seems  to  be  i)re- 
paring  to  flee  before  the  violence  of  the  wind  and  the 
thunders  of  the  Atlantic. 

Of  these  bars  there  arc  two  :  the  northwestern  ex- 
tends seventeen  miles  out  to  sea  ^rom  the  end  of  the? 
gra.sBy  sand-hills,  the  i)art  above  water  being  contin- 
ued in  bad  weather  by  some  eight  or  nine   miles  of 


\  \  ^■ 


m 


p\ 


!    t 


74 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


I    ' 


I     ! 


foaming  breakers,  and  the  remaining  seven  miles  be- 
ing usually  shown  by  a  great  ripple  or  cross-sea.  The 
northeastern  bar  extends  fourteen  miles  out  from  the 
grassy  sand-hills;  the  dry  part  of  four  miles  being  suc- 
ceeeded  by  eight  or  nine  miles  o(  breakers.  At  a  dis- 
tance of  two  miles  out  a  is  bar,  a  sand  hill  about 
ten  feet  high,  with  soni,  ?.;vav  upon  it,  has  accumu- 
lated around  the  wreck  ot  a  vebb>.i  lost  there  in  1820. 
If  we  add  the  the  dry  part  of  the  bars  to  the  length  of 
the  island,  the  whole  extent  of  dry -sand  is  about 
twenty-two  miles;  and  if  again  we  add  to  this  the  still 
greater  length  of  the  bars  under  water  at  either  end, 
the  whole  will  form  a  bow  or  crescent,  concave  to  the 
north,  extending  over  fifty-two  miles  of  sea.  This 
mass  of  sand  being  acted  upon  by  currents  moving  in 
different  directions,  by  storms  and  tempests,  by  under- 
tow and  tides,  gives  the  whole  island  and  its  bars  the 
character  of  a  juggler's  ball — "  Now  you  see  it,  and 
now  you  don't."  Within  the  memory  of  nautical  men 
it  has  assumed  several  shapes.  It  has  been,  like  Sat- 
urn with  her  rings  among  the  planets,  distinguished 
among  islands  by  two  belts  of  circumjacent  sand.  A 
gale  increases  or  decreases  the  size  of  the  belts;  now 
they  are  covered  with  a  few  feet  of  water,  after  the 
next  storm  they  may  be  lifted  above  the  surface. 
On  one  occasion,  many  years  ago,  a  storm  broke 


i 


-kA** 


SABLE    ISLAND. 


75 


through  the  sandy  ridge  which  separates  the  interior 
salt  lake  from  the  ocean,  and  formed  an  inlet  which 
for  some  time  afforded  a  comfortable  harbor  for  small 
coasters;  but  a  subsequent  storm,  catching  two  small 
American  fishing  vessels  sheltering  there,  closed  it  and 
shut  them  in.  And  ihus  this  Proteus  of  the  ocean 
goes  on  changing  its  form  and  baffling  the  skill  and 
ocean  lore  of  the  most  experienced  navigator.  If  a 
vessel  strike  on  a  bar  or  on  the  beach,  she  becomes 
the  nucleus  about  which  the  sand  collects,  and  in  j 
short  time  she  is  buried  in  a  grave  from  which  there 
would  seem  to  be  no  force  mighty  enough  to  tear  1 
I  wen  the  furious  winds  and  thundering  waves  of  the 
Atlantic  cannot  hale  her  from  the  clinging  sand  in 
which  she  is  embedded,  until  years  have  reduced  her 
to  dust  and  weakened  her  timbers,  and  then  some 
great  convulsion  of  the  elements  exposes  her  crumbl- 
ing ribs  and  mingled  with  the  shattered  timbers  often 
human  skeletons. 

Still  further  to  illustrate  the  changes  which  it  under- 
goes, it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  site  of  the  residence 
of  the  first  superintendent  was  in  1833  three  miles  out 
in  the  sea,  covered  with  two  fathoms  of  water,  and 
since  that  time  the  island  has  moved  out  again  so  that 
the  site  is  once  more  where  it  was  originally. 

The  following  statements  tak^^n  from  the  report  of 


■Ih 


'I 


11 

M 


m 


■  ^ 


I.  i 
1 1 


1 


1(> 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


:h  !! 


!'  '    '.' 


% 


'■:i'i  I 


the  Minister  of  Marine  and  Fisheries  will  show  the 
changes  which  have  recently  taken  place.  He  says; 
"It  was  found  that  fully  8o  feet  had  disappeared  since 
the  erection  of  the  light-house  in  1873,  thus  reducing 
the  distance  from  the  light-house  to  the  edge  of  the 
sand  cliff  to  about  half  of  what  it  was  originally. 
Large  portions  of  the  bank  were  washed  away,  until 
finally  a  distance  of  only  five  feet  was  left  from  the 
edge  of  the  cliff  to  the  buttresses  of  the  light-house, 
and  in  those  critical  circumstances,  it  was  deemed  ad- 
visable to  discontinue  the  light  and  remove  the  appa- 
ratus, and  arrange  for  the  re-erection  of  the  tower  on 
a  new  site  1,218  feet  east  from  the  old  position.  A 
new  solid  foundation  was  accordingly  formed  of 
cement,  the  building  taken  down  and  erected  thereon, 
and  the  light  again  shown." 

The  latest  intelligence  informs  us  that  the  sea  has 
reduced  the  dimensions  of  the  island  about  one-half. 

"  Halifax,  July  19, 1890. — The  Government  steamer 
Newfield  has  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  Sable  Island. 
Capt.  Guilford  was  greatly  surprised  on  reaching  the 
island  to  find  such  a  remarkable  change  in  its  form 
since  his  last  visit.  The  western  end  is  rapidly  wash- 
ing away,  and  the  bar  is  making  its  way  to  the  north. 
The  captain  is  of  the  opinion  that  a  survey  of  the 
island  should  be  made  at  once,  as  it  would  greatly 
assist  vessels  sailing  in  that  direction. 


the 


has 

half. 

amer 

and. 

the 
orm 
ash- 
orth. 

the 
3atly 


1 


SABLE    ISLAND. 


n 


"  Few  mariners  are  aware  of  the  remarkable  change 
that  the  bar  has  been  undergoing  in  a  very  short  time. 
Since  1880  three  lighthouses  have  been  erected  on  the 
island,  two  of  which  have  been  washed  away  by  the 
sea,  which  is  now  eating  its  way  into  the  sand  which 
surrounds  the  third.  It  is  not  a  very  long  time  since 
the  island  was  forty  miles  long,  while  now  it  is  only 
twenty  miles  long." 

At  each  end  of  the  island  there  is  a  lighthouse,  with 
several  wrecking  stations  at  different  points  between. 
The  wreck  chart  does  not  show  the  nationality  of  the 
vessels  lost,  but  the  names  show  by  far  the  greater 
number  belonged  to  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great 
Britain  and  to  the  United  States.  It  would  be  only 
right  and  just  that  these  governments  should  join  their 
forces  to  the  efforts  of  Canada  to  prevent  the  continu- 
ance of  the  growing  list  of  horrors  from  shipwreck 
there. 

One  question  yet,  and  this  account  of  Sable  Island  is 
finished.  What  forms  the  aggregation  of  sand  of  which 
it  is  composed?  The  current  of  the  Gulf  Stream, 
broken  and  divided  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ocean, 
meeting  the  southern  and  landward  currents  from  the 
St.  Lawrence  river  and  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  make  this 
the  battle  ground  on  which  the  elements  clench  one 
another  in  Cyclopean  embrace. 


1 

■    hI 

Vj! 

■•: 

:>l,l 

.     (1 

( 


■ 


Ml 


i 

■1 

\ 

\ 

1              tH 

!!■ 

\ 

i!9 


I 


!l 


n 


'    ■■  i 


i 


CHAPTER  VII. 


EARLY  HISTORY. 

"XirHKN  the  Northmen  ceased  to  visit  this  country, 
'  *  and  their  colonies  had  been  destroyed,  the  Hrst 
known  civiHzation  faded  away  from  these  wild  north- 
ern shores.  But  the  memory  of  the  discovery  and  set- 
tlement still  remained.  In  the  Icelandic  sagas  all  had 
been  noted  with  that  circumstantial  accuracy  which 
distinguishes  the  writings  of  that  remarkable  people. 

"  They  led  no  isolated  life,  these  Norsemen,  restrict- 
ing their  operations  and  attainments  to  their  own 
national  limits,  for  they  laid  their  hand  with  a  perma- 
nent grasp  on  England,  France,  Switzerland,  Italy, 
Russia,  and  Iceland,  impressing  their  national  charac- 
teristics upon  these  as  well  as  Denmark,  Sweden,  and 
Norway.  The  fleets  and  hosts  of  the  north  embraced 
the  w4iole  coast  from  the  Elbe  to  the  Pyrenean  penin- 
sula ;  they  extended  their  expeditions  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean, while  at  the  same  time  making  conquest  after 
conquest  in  luigland,  Scotland,  and  Ireland. 

"  Hence  it  was  utterly  impossible  for  the  southern 
nations,  or   for   Rome,  to  be    in   ignorance   of    their 

achievements,  or  of  the  fact  that  men  of  the  same  race 

(78) 


EARLY    HISTORY. 


79 


who  had  tiirown  all  Europe  into  consternation  had 
also  discovered  a  new  Continent  in  the  West.  The 
heads  of  the  Church,  always  keeping  a  vigilant  eye  on 
the  movements  of  their  arch-enemy,  were  well  aware 
that  the  records  and  annals  of  their  voyages  to  Amcr- 
rica  were  preserved  in  Iceland,  whence  they  had  set 
sail,  while  the  writings  of  Adam  of  Bremen,  proclaim- 
ing the  fact  of  the  Norse  discovery,  were  already 
accessible  both  to  them  and  to  Columbus. 

"  Besides  all  this  evidence,  quite  sufficient  to  con- 
vince that  astute  body  of  schemers,  the  holy  fathers 
in  Rome  received  direct  personal  evidence  through 
the  visit  of  Gudrid,  the  wife  of  Thorfinn  Karlsefni, 
who  founded  a  colony  in  Massachusetts,  and  remained 
there  three  years.  '  It  is  related  that  she  was  well 
received,  and  she  certainly  must  have  talked  there  of 
her  ever-memorable  trans-oceanic  voyage  to  Vinland 
and  her  three  years'  residence  there.  Rome  paid 
much  attention  to  geographical  discoveries,  and  took 
pains  to  collect  all  new  charts  and  reports  that  were 
brought  there.  Every  new  discovery  was  an  aggran- 
dizement of  the  pu])al  dominion,  a  new  field  for  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel.  The  Romans  might  have 
heard  of  Vinland  before,  but  she  brought  personal 
evidence.'* 


*  Gabriel  Gravier's  Decouverte  de  /'  Arnerique  par  Us  Normands, 


IH 

'''    \ 

'-    I'M 


'■ill 


•II 


ii, 


■k 
ii. 


\ 


i 


'^ 


\  1 " 


I 


)  ST') 
f    4     -X 


lo 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


i)    ! 


Hence  it  was  deemed  advisable  for  Columbus  to 
visit  Iceland  to  gain  information,  which  he  did  in 
1477,  meeting  with  the  very  man,  Bishop  P.Iagnus 
Erolfson,  who  had  been  Abbot  of  the  Monastery  of 
Helzafell,  the  place  where  the  oldest  documents  relat- 
ing to  Greenland  and  Vinland  had  been  written,  and 
the  district  from  which  the  most  distinguished  voyag- 
ers had  gone  forth.  The  fact  of  Columbus  having 
gone  there  is  confirmed  by  himself,  for  he  mentions 
his  visit  in  a  letter  to  his  son,  and  it  is  mantained  by 
Laing,  Beamish,  W.  Irving,  Holmberg,  R.  B.  Ander- 
son, Tonhnin  Smith,  and  other  authors,  the  latter 
saying  conclusively:  "There  can  be  little  doubt  that 
he  (Columbus),  had  gained  the  chief  confirmation  of 
his  idea  of  the  existence  oi  terra  fin na  in  the  western 
ocean  during  the  visit  which  he  is  known  to  have 
made,  before  his  western  voyage,  to  Iceland." 

And  there  it  is,  upon  the  records,  that  in  tiie  sum- 
mer of  1477  there  came  to  Reykjavik  a  long-visaged, 
gray-eyed,  Genoese  sailor,  who  took  an  amazing  inter- 
est in  studying  ever\'thing  that  could  be  learned  relat- 
ing to  the  subject.  That  man  was  Christopher  Co- 
lumbus. And  it  was  there,  in  the  annals  of  the  Ice- 
landers, that  he  found  the  facts  upon  which  he  rested 
his  trustful  soul,  and  strengthened  the  f.iitli  in  which 
he  sailed  away  and  away  to  find  a  new  world  and  im- 
mortal fame. 


fii! 


EARLY    HISTORY. 


8l 


After  him,  in  the  early  summer  of  1497,  the  Cabots, 
under  the  patronage  of  Henry  VII.  of  l^ngland,  sailed 
over  tlie  perilous  seas  to  find  a  vvesterh'  route  to  India 
and  China.  Tliey  visited  Newfoundland  and  Labrador, 
and  returned  without  accomplishing  their  object. 
The  following  year  Sebastian  Cabot  returned  and  ex- 
plored the  coast  from  Labrador  to  Florida.  It  is  in 
this  secondary  manner  that  to  the  Cabots  belongs  the 
honor  of  discovering  the  continent  of  North  America, 
and  upon  this  discovery  England  afterward  based  her 
claim  to  the  country. 

Then  followed  the  seekers  after  the  gold  and  treas- 
ure of  the  new  world.  Ponce  de  Leon  went  to  Florida 
to  find  the  fountain  of  perpetual  youth;  Cortez  to 
Mexico,  with  his  red-handed  band  of  .Spanish  murder- 
ers; De  Soto  reached  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  with 
the  broken  remnant  of  a  once-powerful  expedition,  only 
to  find  lasting  fame  and  a  grave  in  its  waters;  Balboc.. 
crossing  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  waded  into  the  Pacific 
and  claimed  possession  of  its  waters,  shores  ancf 
islands  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  France. 

The  first  P^uropean  colonization  made  in  the  terri- 
tory known  as  Acadie  was  almost  entirely  confined  to 
that  part  of  the  country  now  known  as  Nova  Scotia. 
The  name  "Acadie,"  which  it  formerly  bore,  is  derived 
from    the  Algonquin   word   "cadie."     That  word,  in 


^  ■'■'jj 


III  W 


■  ]t 


■  i 


82 


ACADIE   AND    THE   ACADIANS. 


>    !'■ 


I;   !i 


the  language  of  the  Micmacs,  means  "  plenty  of "  or 
"  abounding  in,'  as  in  the  name  "  Shubenacadie,"  which 
means  "plenty  of  beech  nuts."  The  word  is  found  in 
other  combinations,  either  as  a  prefix  or  suffix  in  the 
Indian  names  of  places.  The  French  form  of  the  word 
and  the  name  by  which  the  country  was  known  during 
the  French  uccupancy  was  Acadie.  For  more  than 
two  hundred  years  that  was  the  official  title  of  the  ter- 
ritory now  embraced  in  the  Provinces  of  Nova  Scotia 
and  New  Brunswick  and  a  part  of  the  State  of  Maine. 
The  name  Nova  Scotia,  which  means  New  Scotland, 
was  used  as  early  as  1621,  when  King  James  I.  gave 
the  country  to  his  Scottish  friend,  Sir  William  Alex- 
ander, but  it  did  not  become  the  officially  recognized 
title  until  the  beginning  of  the  British  period,  in  1710. 

The  beginning  of  the  French  period  dates  from  the 
year  1604,  when  an  attempt  at  colonization  was  made 
under  the  guidance  of  Pierre  du  Guast,  the  Sieur  de 
Monts,  in  behalf  of  France.  Attenipts  at  settlement  had 
been  made  previous  to  this  date  without  success,  but  the 
stirring  incidents  related  in  connection  with  them  are 
worthy  of  being  recounted.  The  first  of  these  attempts 
was  made  by  the  J-Jaron  de  Lery  as  early  as  the  year 
1518. 

In  1583  Sir  IIum[)hrey  Gilbert's  vessel  was  lost  on 
Sable    Island.      In    159S    the    Marquis   de   la   Roche 


EARLY   HISTORY. 


83 


landed  his  convicts  the/e.  Then  in  1604  came  the 
expedition  of  De  Monts,  and  in  the  following  year 
Port  Royal  was  founded,  from  whence  may  be  reck- 
oned the  beginning  of  the  era  known  as  the  French 
period  in  the  history  of  Nova  Scotia,  Then  followed 
a  long  romance  of  battle  and  massacre.  The  King  of 
France,  influenced  by  the  rivals  of  De  Monts,  canceled 
his  charter.  With  Poutrincourt,  De  Monts  set  out  for 
France,  leaving  the  colony  in  charge  of  Pontgrave 
and  Champlain.  Poutrincourt  returned  the  following 
spring,  found  Pontgrave  despairing,  about  to  break  up 
the  colony,  and  follow  him  to  la  belle  France.  He 
rolled  out  a  hogshead  of  wine,  and  they  held  all  to- 
gether a  merry  reunion.  The  following  winter  was 
spent  pleasantly.  A  club  was  formed  by  fifteen  of  the 
leading  men,  called  "The  Order  of  the  Good  Time," 
in  which  each  man  in  his  turn  held  the  office  of  Grand 
Master,  provided  for  the  table,  and  furnished  amuse- 
ment for  the  company.  Welcome  guests  at  this  fes- 
tive board  were  the  Indian  chiefs,  most  honored  among 
whom  was  one  called  Memberton,  whose  span  of  life 
had  been  extended  past  one  hundred  years.  W'ith 
these  representatives  of  the  Micmac  tribes  they  smoked 
the  calumet  of  peace  with  pipes  made  from  tlir  lob- 
ster's claws.  But  the  exclusive  right  to  tiie  fur  trade 
havinjj  been  taken  away,  the  colony  was  broken  up. 


\A 


'H:  1 


84 


ACAniK   AND   TIIK    ACADIAX^. 


.i     i 


Poiitrincor.rt,  however,  returned  to  Christianize  th*» 
Indians,  and  brou^^ht  with  him  a  priest  for  the  woik. 
The  first  convert  was  tlie  old  chief  Memberton,throufTh 
Ahose  influence  many  people  became  Christians. 
Biencourt,  the  son  of  Poutrincourt,  was  sent  back  to 
France  to  report  the  success  of  the  work  to  the  kinjr. 
Me  returned  the  following  year,  and  with  him  came 
Claude  de  la  Tour  and  his  son  Charles,  both  destined 
to  play  important  parts  in  the  history  of  the  country. 

In  1607  Jamestown,  on  the  James  river  in  Virginia, 
was  founded  by  the  English,  who  claimed  all  the 
country  north  of  them.  When  they  learned  of  the 
French  settlement  in  Acadie,  Captain  Argall,  in  1614, 
led  an  expedition  which  appeared  suddenly  before 
Port  Royal,  plundered  and  laid  it  in  ruins.  That  nc 
trace  of  French  ownership  might  remain,  it  !-■  said  he 
even  erased  the  royal  arms  and  the  "amcs  of  the  )und- 
ers  of  the  place  from  the  rock  outside  the  fort  on 
which  they  had  been  engraved.  Sir  William  Alex- 
ander now  received  a  grant  fiom  King  James  1.  of 
I'jigland,  in  which  charter  the  country  is  first  named 
Nova  Scotia.  He  endeavored  to  colonize  his  posses- 
sions, but  the  effort  did  not  prosper.  Biencourt,  wan- 
dering with  live  Indians,  claimed  the  country  until  his 
death,  when  his  title  as  commandant  devolved  on 
Charles  de  ii   Tour. 


^■^ 


EARt.Y   HISTORY. 


85 


Sir  William,  anxious  to  expel  the  F/cnch,  fitted  out 
a  little  fleet  which,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Da\'id 
Kirkt,  captured  several  French  vessels  ;  he  also  took 
possession  of  Port  Royal.  On  board  one  of  the 
vessels  captured  by  Kirkt  was  Claude  de  la  Tour, 
lie  was  carried  prisoner  to  England  where  he  wrested 
from  disaster  the  substantial  fruits  of  victory,  incjra- 
tiated  himself  with  his  captors,  married  a  lady  of  the 
English  court,  and  received  from  the  King  the  title  i  i 
Knight  Baronet  of  Nova  Scotia.  He  secured  the 
same  title  for  his  son,  who  still  held  Fort  Louis,  near 
Cape  Sable,  by  promising  that  he  should  immediate])' 
submit  to  the  crown  of  England.  Accompanied  bv 
his  wife  he  sailed  for  Cape  Sable,  but  when  he  arri\'ed 
there  he  discovered  to  his  chas^^rin  that  he  had  mis-- 
calculated  the  power  of  his  influence  over  his  son. 
Neither  entreaty  nor  cannon-balls  moved  the  unyield- 
ing Charles.  Claude  was  in  disgrace,  a  traitor  to 
France,  discredited  and  without  influence  in  Englan-' 
His  only  resort  was  to  make  a  humiliating  agreemeiu 
with  Charles,  who  allowed  him  to  make  his  home  01- 
side  the  fort,  but  forbade  him  ever  to  enter.  Fir  !'\* 
in  1632  the  two  powers  entered  into  a  treat)-  at  St. 
Germains,  whereby  Acadie,  with  all  Canada,  was  re- 
stored to  France. 

The  French  spent  the  next  twenty  N'cars  of  occupa- 


i 

'II 
M 


"fi. 


3 


>  ■    li 

:       iVi 


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fi; 


'•^f 


•■ .'  i. 


.;■ 


86 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACAniA^S. 


i 


tion  in  quarrclini^  amoiiL^  themselves.     Isaac  de  Razilli 
was    appointed    (jovernor,    with   Ciiarles  de    la  Tour 
Lieutenant-Governer  in  the  Peninsula  and  D'Aulnay 
Charnise  in  the  district  north  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 
Razilli's  headquarters  were   at  La  Have,   where   the 
ruins  of  his   fortifications  may  still  be  traced      When 
Razilli  died  his  tv;o  lieutenants  fought  for  sole  control. 
La  Tour,  hard  pressed,  sailed   for  Boston,  where  he 
hired  men  and  vessels,  returned  with  them  and  put  his 
enemy  to  flight.     Madame  La  Tour,  clever  and  brave, 
aided  her  nusband  in  peace  and  in  war.     She  went  to 
England    tor    supplies.       Returning    her   vessc.    was 
boarded  by  Charnise.     She  escaped  capture  by  hiding 
in  the  hold.     La  Tom  being  absent  on  one  occasion 
with  many  of  his  men,  Charnise  hastened  to  beseige 
the    ort.     Once  he  had  been  driven   off  by  Madame 
La  Tour,  but  on  this  occasion,  after  a  three  days'  fight, 
the  fort  was  betrayed  by  a  Swiss  sentry.     As  she  saw 
the  enemy  entering,  the  heroic  woman    rallied    her 
forces,  and  presented  so  bold  a  front  that  she  gained 
froni  Charnise  honorable  terms  of  surrender.    Accept- 
ing the  terms,  tlie  men    laid  down   their  arms.     But 
when   Ch.irnise  saw  the  defenceless  condition   of  the 
fort  he  regretted  that  he  had  given  such  terms  as  he 
had,  and  charged  Madame  La  Tour  with  having  de- 
ceived him.     He  then  proceeded  in  the  most  inhuman 


m. 
th 
CI 
M 


EARLY    IIIS'IOKV. 


8/ 


manner  to  put  the  garrison  to  death.  One  anionL; 
them  purchased  his  hfe  by  actin<^,  at  the  coniniand  of 
Charnise,  as  the  executioner  of  his  comrades,  while 
Madame  La  Tour,  with  a  halter  around  her  neck,  was 
compelled  to  stand  bv  and  witness  tlie  awful  scene. 
She  died  broken-hearted  before  her  husband's  return. 
La  Tour,  despairing,  left  the  country.  Charnise,  at  a 
fearful  cost,  had  gained  the  position  he  desired ;  but 
he  did  not  Hve  long  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  victor)'. 
In  about  three  years  he  died,  leaving  his  estates  heavily 
mortgaged,  the  principal  creditor  being  Le  Borgne,  a 
merchant  of  Rochelle.  Le  Borgne  seized  Acadie  ;  but 
now  La  Tour  appeared  again  upon  the  scene.  *  le 
had  made  his  peace  with  the  King  of  France,  and 
brought  with  him  a  royal  commission  from  the  French 
court  as  Governor  of  all  Acadie.  He  healed  the 
old  feuds  in  a  most  romantic  manner  by  marrying  the 
widow  of  his  former  rival,  Charnise,  and  made  his 
home  henceforth  at  Fort  La  Tour,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  river  St.  John. 


.4" 


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f  t>i 


I    ( 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
END  OF  THE  FRENCH  PERIOD. 

OLIVER  CROMWELL,  at  the  instance  of  the 
Puritar  .  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  who  were 
dissatisfied  with  the  treaty  of  St.  Gcrmains,  in  which 
Acadie  had  been  ceded  to  P^rance,  sent  out  Colonel 
Sedgwick,  in  ,  1654,  to  recapture  the  country.  Le 
Borgne,  the  Rochelle  merchant,  intrenched  at  Port 
Royal,  with  his  son  in  command  at  Fort  La  Have, 
scorned  his  summons  to  surrender,  but  he  was  com- 
pelled to  submit.  La  Tour  then  sold  out  his  claim  to 
Sir  Thomas  Temple,  but  reserved  his  fort  at  St.  John, 
where  he  .spent  th^  remainder  of  his  days  in  peace. 

But  the  treaty  of  Breda,  in  1667,  restored  the 
country  again  to  France,  and  Temple  was  compelled 
to  hand  over  his  forts  to  the  French  governor,  Le 
Chevalier  de  Grand  Fontaine.  Then  came  Sir  Wil- 
liam Phipps,  with  eight  vessels  and  eight  hundred 
men,  from  Boston  in  1690,  and  captured  Port  Royal. 
But  he  left  the  fort  without  a  garrison,  and  the 
French,  who  had  taken  to  the  woods,  returned  and 
took  possession  as  soon  as  he  had  departed.     Ville- 

bon,  the  new  P^rench  commander,  established  himself 

(88) 


END    OF    THE    FRFACH    TERIOD. 


89 


at  Nashvvaak  on  the  river  St.  Jolin.  Here  the  pirate 
Baptiste  found  refuge  and  sale  for  his  booty. 

Next  in  this  swiftly-changing  panorama  of  events 
appeared  the  war-like  figure  of  old  Ren  Church. 
Like  a  destroying  angel  he  moved  with  his  fleet  of 
whale-boats,  manned  by  the  hardy  New  England  sea- 
men, from  Passamaquoddy  Bay  to  the  Cumberland 
Basin,  destroying  every  French  settlement  on  the 
coast.  This  was  done  in  retaliation  for  the  French 
and  Indian  outrages  on  the  New  England  settlements. 

A  treaty  of  peace  was  now  made  at  Ryswick,  1697, 
and  Acadie  was  once  more  confirmed  to  France.  But 
war  soon  broke  out  again.  Port  Royal,  the  strong- 
hold of  the  French  in  Nova  Scotia,  was  captured  in 
17 10,  secured  to  Great  Britain,  and  its  name  changed, 
in  honor  of  Queen  Anne,  to  Annapolis  Royal. 

In  171 3,  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  peace  was  con- 
cluded, and  Nova  Scotia  again  ceded  to  Great  Britain. 
Then  came  an  era  of  renewed  doubt  and  uncertainty. 
The  French  fortified  Louisbourg  on  the  island  of 
Cape  Breton  until  it  was  well-nigh  impregnable. 
Again  war  broke  out.  Louisbourg  was  besieged. 
After  a  seven  weeks'  resistance,  Duchambon,  the 
commandant,  surrendered,  and  Colonel  Pepperell,  at 
the  head  of  his  New  Englanders,  marched  in.  They 
found  amonij  the  stores  of  the  i^arrison  an  abundance 


I 


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il 

i  ft 


!.■' 


I 


1 


f  lil 


90 


ACADIE    AND   THE    ACADIAN??. 


'       ! 


!   1 
I  ^ 


of  rum  and,  yicklint^  to  its  seductive  power,  scores  of 
drunken  soldiers  every  day  staggered  tlirough  tlie 
streets.  Unbridled  appetite  was  followed  by  fatal 
fever,  and  before  the  snows  were  melted  by  returning 
.spring  twelve  hundred  of  Peppercll's  men  had  died 
and  were  buried  in  the  soil  which  they  had  con- 
quered. 

The  loss  of  Louisbourg  filled  the  French  with  rage, 
and  it  was  determined  to  retake  it.  And  it  was  at  this 
time  that  the  question  was  practically  settled  for  the 
last  time,  as  to  who  should  rule  in  Acadic.  Another 
question  of  still  greater  importance  was  also  decided 
at  the  same  time;  that  was,  whether  the  Province,  and, 
indeed,  the  whole  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  as  well 
as  the  United  States,  should  grow  up  under  the  influ- 
ences of  Romanism  or  Protestantism.  Aside  from  the 
individual  struggles  and  strifes  for  gain,  the  love  of 
adventure  and  the  ambition  of  kings  for  conquest  and 
.self-aggrandizement,  the  hand  of  the  Jesuit  and  the 
power  of  the  Pope  were  waging  a  warfare  in  the  inter- 
est of  Rome.  It  was  in  this  troubled  era  that  the 
question  of  supreme  political  importance  in  the  Old 
World  was  whether  Protestant  Prussia  should  be 
allowed  to  grow  up  strong  in  the  heart  of  Roman 
Catholic  t^urope. 

All  the  Romish  powers  were  leagued  against  Fred- 


END    or   THE    FRENXH    PERIOD. 


91 


erick  the  Great,  and  in  a  ring  of  fire  he  defended  the 
cause  of  rrotestantism,  then  in  its  youth,  on  tliat  con- 
tinent. In  the  same  great  historic  period  the  supreme 
question  on  this  continent  was  whether  North  America 
should  be  settled  under  Romish  or  Protestant  aus- 
pices. A  French  armament  of  forty  ships  of  war, 
under  Due  D'Anville,  was  fitted  out  at  Rochelle  for 
the  recapture  of  I.ouisbourg,  the  subjugation  of  Nova 
Scotia,  and  the  destruction  of  Boston  and  other  New 
England  towns.  Protestantism  was  to  be  finally  eradi- 
cated. Our  fathers,  feeling  that  their  only  safety  was 
in  God,  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  in  all 
their  churches.  Thomas  Prince,  pastor  of  the  congre- 
gation worshiping  in  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston, 
offered  petitions  to  the  Almighty  that  His  Providence 
might  fight  against  aSsolutism,  ignorance,  and  all 
kinds  of  political  and  ecclesiastical  tyranny.  As  the 
prayer  was  being  offered  there  arose  a  powerful 
wind,  although  the  day  had  been  until  then  clear  and 
calm. 
"The  shutters  of  this  house,  so  history  says,  were 
shaken  by  a  niighty  seaward  movement  of  the  atmo- 
sphere, and  the  petitioner,  pausing  in  his  prayer, 
looked  around  upon  the  audience  with  a  countenance 
of  hope,  and  again  commenced,  with  great  devotional 
ardor,  and  supplicated  Providence  to  cause  that  wind 


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92 


AC^DIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


to  frustrate  the  object  of  our  enemies  and  save  the 
country  from  conquest.* 

A  tempest  followed,  in  which  the  greater  part  of  the 
French  fleet  was  wrecked  ofif  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia. 
Only  a  feeble  remnant  of  the  expedition  survived. 
The  enterprise  upon  which  it  had  been  sent  was  aban- 
doned and  never  resumed." 

That  expedition  was  one  of  the  most  fruitless  and 
ill-fated  the  world  has  ever  seen.  Previous  to  its  com- 
ing there  had  been  nothing  to  compare  with  it  in  gran- 
deur. It  was  the  most  powerful  fleet  that  had  ever 
been  sent  to  America.  But  it  never  gained  a  single 
victory.  Some  of  its  ships  were  captured  by  the  Eng- 
lish while  yet  on  the  coast  of  France.  One  disaster 
from  that  time  onward  followed  close  after  another, 
and  fell  upon  it.  Some  of  its  ships  were  cast  away  on 
the  treacherous  sands  of  Sable  Island,  and  others  were 
driven  out  of  their  course  by  adverse  winds  and  never 
reached  the  ports  for  which  they  sailed.  D'Anville, 
after  a  three-month's  cruise  and  suffering  by  wild 
storms  arrived  with  a  feeble  remnant  of  the  great  fleet 
in  Chebucto  Harbor,  now  Halifax.  Here,  just  a  week 
after  his  arrival,  he  suddenly  died,  whether  of  apoplexy 
or  by  poison,  taken  in  despair,  no  one  can  tell.    D'Es- 

*  Prelude  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Cook's  Boston  Monday  Lecture,  deliv. 
ered  in  the  "Old  South,"  Nov.  17,  1879. 


END    OF   THE    FRENCH    PERIOD. 


93 


tournelle,  the  second  in  command,  was  for  immedi- 
ately returning  to  France.  He  called  a  council  and 
made  his  wish  known,  but  his  officers  thought  they 
ought  at  least  to  take  Annapolis.  This  so  angered 
him,  being  opposed  in  council,  that  he  fell  into  a  fever, 
and  in  the  delirium  which  seized  him  fell  upon  his 
sword  and  killed  himself  Following  this  tragedy  the 
small-pox  broke  out  among  the  men.  The  mortality 
was  frightful. 

La  Jonquiere  now  succeeded  to  the  command.  He 
made  a  feeble  attempt  upon  Annapolis,  but  only  dis- 
aster followed.  A  violent  storm  arose,  which  wrought 
such  ruin  that  the  remaining  vessels  turned  home- 
ward. 

No  doubt  God  interfered  to  disperse  the  hostile 
fleet  and  bring  retribution  on  the  men  ot  blood  at  the 
same  time,  that  history  might  be  saved  other  dark 
pages  of  French  aggression  and  Romish  domination 
in  this  New  World.  For  this  was  the  great  problem 
that  was  being  solved  on  Nova  Scotia's  rugged  hills 
and  stormy  waters,  when  the  fleets  and  armies  of 
Britain  and  France  so  often  met  thereon  in  deadly 
conflict.  Thanks  to  the  Ruler  of  nations  that  Pro- 
testant liberty  and  not  Roman  intolerance  dominates 
this  fair  realm  to-day. 

Following  the  startling  developments  narrated  came 


I  >i 


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M 


^!*ii:^ 


ei' 


94 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapellc,  in  1748.  Great  Britain 
and  France  for  a  while  ceased  fighting,  and  once 
again  the  angel  of  peace  descended  upon  the  war- 
scarred,  desolated  land  to  plume  her  ruffled  pinions, 
and  to  bring  the  benisons  of  heaven  in  her  train. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
ENGLISH  COLONIZATION-HALIFAX. 

THREE  years  after  D'Anville's  shattered  fleet 
sought  shelter  in  Chebucto  harbor,  where  the 
whitened  skeletons  of  French  soldiers  were  found 
beneath  the  bushes  beside  their  rusty  muskets,  a 
new  and  busy  scene  presents  itself.  The  tri-color  of 
the  roving  Norsemen  no  longer  floats  over  their  rude 
shallops  there,  and  the  lilies  of  France  have  gone  in 
their  blood  stained  beauty  back  toward  the  rising  sun. 
And  now,  after  two  nations  have  struggled  for  a  foot- 
hold and  gone  down,  a  third,  under  the  proud  banner 
of  the  Cross  of  St  George,  comes  joyfully  over  the 
sea.  Mothers  and  children,  strong  men  and  blooming 
maids,  intent  upon  the  arts  of  peace,  not  mail-clad  war- 
riors, make  up  the  arriving  company.  Where  the 
boulders  and  the  piles  have  failed  to  withstand  the  en- 
croachments of  the  sea,  the  grass  rooting  and  growing 
in  the  sand  will  often  keep  it  back;  and  thus  where 
the  prowess  of  arms  and  the  horrors  of  war  have  failed 
to  give  security  to  the  title,  the  more  noble  and 
more  natural  conquest  by  industry  and  toil   is  to  be 

attempted. 

(95) 


PI 


:| 


'f 


iH 


i 


96 


ACADIE   AND   THK   AC  A  DUNS. 


/ 


The  government  of  Great  Britain  nad  resolved,  in 
order  to  keep  secure  possession  of  the  country,  to 
colonize  it  without  delay.  Accordingly  the  Lords  of 
Trade  and  Plantations,  who  had  charge  of  colonial 
affairs,  had  given  orders  for  the  founding  of  a  new 
capital  on  the  shores  of  Chebucto  harbor;  and  these 
now  arriving  were  the  colonists,  under  the  commantl 
of  Colonel  Edward  Cornwallis,  two  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six  in  number. 

On  the  wejtern  side  of  that  magnificent  harbor, 
which  is  six  miles  long  by  one  mile  wide,  and  con- 
nected at  its  northern  end  with  a  land-locked  basin 
containing  more  than  twenty  square  miles  of  water, 
the  site  of  the  projected  city  was  chosen,  and  in  honor 
of  Lord  Halifax,  the  President  of  the  Lords  of  Trade 
and  Plantations  and  most  worthy  patron  of  the  colo- 
nists, the  place  was  named  Halifax. 

These  emigrants  had  been  embarked  in  thirteen 
transports  under  the  command  of  Lord  Cornwallis, 
who  had  been  appointed  Governor  of  the  Province  at 
a  salary  of  one  thousand  pounds  sterling  per  annum. 
He  sailed  in  the  "  Sphinx  "  sloop  of  war,  on  the  four- 
teenth of  May,  1 749,  and  arrived  on  the  coast  of  Nova 
Scotia  on  the  fourteenth  of  June  following.  His  first 
landing  was  in  Merliguesch  Bay — now  Lunenburg 
Harbor — where  he  found  a  small  settlement  of  Acadian 
French. 


;siH' 


ftNr.LISH   COLONIZATION — HALIFAX. 


97 


In  a  letter  dated  the  twenty-second  of  June,  Corn- 
wallis  writes:  "We  came  to  anclior  in  Merliguesch 
Bay,  where  I  was  told  there  was  a  French  settlement. 
I  went  ashore  to  see  the  houses  and  manner  of  living 
of  the  inhabitants.  There  are  but  a  few  families,  with 
tolerable  wooden  houses,  covered  with  bark ;  a  good 
many  cattle,  and  clear  ground  more  than  serves  them- 
.selves.  They  seem  to  be  very  peaceable ;  say  they 
always  looked  upon  themselves  as  English  subjects ; 
have  their  grants  from  Colonel  Mascarene,  the  Gov- 
ernor at  Annapolis,  and  show  an  unfeigned  joy  to  hear 
of  the  new  settlement." 

The  settlers  arriving  with  Cornwallis  were  English 
and  Germans.  Many  of  the  English  were  discharged 
soldiers,  while  the  Germans  were  principally  farmers 
and  vine- dressers  from  Wiirtemburg  and  Saxony,  and 
still  others  were  Swiss. 

The  reasons  to  be  assigned  for  the  migration  of 
these  people  from  their  homes  in  a  civilized  land  to 
the  bleak  wilderness  which  Nova  Scotia  then  was,  may 
be  summed  up  briefly  as  follows  :  that  migratory  in- 
stinct implanted  in  man,  which  from  time  immemorial 
has  caused  the  jostling  of  races  and  nations  against 
each  other  upon  the  face  of  the  earth ;  the  expansion 
of  the  conscription  lists  preparatory  to  the  increase  of 

the  standing  armies  of  all   Europe    induced  by  the 
7 


V 

^  !' 

il 

''■-     , 

>1   I 

1 

'  '     i 

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>.  m 

98 


ACADIK    AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


rumblings  ()(  the  tluindor  and  the  flasli  of  the  h'ght- 
nings  which  threatened  and  finally  burst  forth  in  the 
storm  of  destruction  known  as  the  Seven  Years'  War; 
the  overcrowded  state  in  which  some  found  them- 
selves amid  the  superabundant  populations  of  the  old 
world ;  the  golden  promises  held  out  to  intending  set- 
tlers by  the  British  Government ;  and  the  sweet  hope 
of  gaining  a  competence  and  a  home — these  were  prob- 
ablv  the  chief  causes  of  their  comini;. 

Most  of  these  people,  with  a  very  limited  knowledge 
of  the  new  country,  having  no  accurate  maps  and  no 
means  of  gaining  reliable  information,  left  home  with 
the  idea  that  they  were  about  to  settle  in  the  near 
neighborhood  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  where 
many  of  their  countrymen  were  already  prosperously 
established ;  nor  did  they  dream  of  the  vast  wilderness 
which  lay  between,  nor  of  the  difference  in  soil  and 
climate,  until  they  came  to  land.  Let  their  motives 
and  impressions,  however,  have  been  what  they  may, 
it  must  be  admitted  that  it  required  a  high  hearted 
courage  in  them  to  give  up  their  hold  on  the  estab- 
lished certainties  of  the  Old  World  and  go  forth  to 
meet  the  dangers  and  brave  the  uncertainties  of  the 
New.  Their  greeting  was  the  roar  of  th-  breakers  on 
an  inhospitable  shore,  their  neighbors  the  savage  wild 
beasts  and  the  still  more  savage  men.     Their  home 


ENr.MSM    C(M.ONIZATION — HALIFAX. 


99 


was  literally  a  howling  wilderness.  And  it  is  more 
than  likely,  had  they  known  what  was  before  them, 
that  nothing  but  stern  necessity  would  have  moved 
the  many  to  face  the  unforeseen  and  bitter  trials. 

After  the  arrival  of  the  first  company,  which  was 
maintained  in  fairly  comfortable  circumstances  by  the 
government,  additional  settlers  were  sent  out  from 
time  to  time  by  agents  employed  for  the  purpose. 
Andreas  Jung,  a  member  of  one  of  these  later  detach- 
ments, writes  in  a  manuscript  history  now  in  posses- 
sion of  the  writer;  "Under  the  guidance  of  the  Omni- 
scient God,  in  consequence  of  a  public  proclamation 
made  in  our  own  dear  Fatherland  by  order  of  His 
Majesty  King  George  II.,  sundry  persons  of  our  com- 
pany in  1750,  '5:  and  '52  arrived  in  Halifax."  This 
proclamation,  which  was  published  also  in  the  London 
Gazette  and  other  English  and  Swiss  papers,  offered 
to  those  who  should  avail  themselves  of  its  terms,  fifty 
acres  ot  land  in  fee  simple,  free  of  all  taxes  for  ten 
}cars;  ten  acres  additional  for  each  member  of  a  fam- 
ily, and  further  privileges  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  acres  cleared  and  brought  under  cultivation.  It 
was  farther  agreed  by  the  government  to  maintain  the 
.settlers  for  twelve  months  after  their  arrival.  They 
were  to  be  provided  with  arms  and  ammunition, 
housekeeping  utensils,  tools  for  clearing  and  cultivat- 


.;)•. 


M 


i'h 


M. 


1^ 


HA 


m 


100 


ACADIF'.    AND    TlIK    ACADIANS. 


in^  their  lands,  as  well  as  for  building  houses  and  for 
prosecuting  the  fisheries.  They  were  assured  that  the 
climate  was  salubrious,  the  water  pure  and  plentiful, 
the  soil  fertile,  yielding  an  abundance  of  everything 
necessary  to  support  life,  the  sea-coast  abounding  in 
fishes  of  the  most  valuable  kinds,  and  furnished  with 
secure  and  commodious  harbors  well  adapted  for 
fishing  and  commerce:  all  of  which  was  true,  though 
it  was  not  the  whole  truth.  Induced  by  these  repre- 
sentations, the  second  detachment  of  emigrants  em- 
barked at  Rotterdam  and  arrive'^  in  Halifax,  as  has 
been  stated,  in  1750,  quickly  to  be  followed  by  others. 
The  manner  of  their  departure  from  their  native 
land,  as  described  by  one  of  their  number,*  who  was 
an  eye-witness,  and  who  afterward  came  from  Ger- 
many to  Lunenburg,  is  at  once  interesting  and  pa- 
thetic. They  all,  in  the  company  alluded  to,  as- 
sembled themselves  in  the  church  in  their  native' 
village  of  Klein  Heibach.  The  bell  had  been  rung 
to  summon  them  to  the  church,  upon  the  eve  of  their 
departure,  to  special  religious  services.  Thither  they 
came,  accompanied  by  their  pastor,  relatives  and 
friends,  filling  the  church  to  its  utmost  capacity. 
There  they  sang  together  for  the  last  time  their  sacred 
songs  of  faith  and  trust,  united   in  the  prayers  that 


*  Mrs.  Beechner. 


ENGLISH    COLONIZATION — HALIFAX. 


lOI 


were  offered  for  their  guidance  and  protection  by  the 
power  of  the  Almighty,  listened  to  the  exhortations 
of  their  faithful  pastor,  and  then,  amid  the  tears  and 
farewells  of  their  dearest  friends,  took  their  leave  from 
the  home  of  their  childhod,  the  associations  of  their 
youth,  and  the  land  they  were  destined  never  to  be- 
hold again. 

The  condition  in  which  these  later  emigrants  found 
themselves  after  their  departure  from  Germany  was 
pitiful  in  the  highest  degree.  Owing  to  the  rapacity 
of  the  government  agent  at  Frankfort,  a  man  named 
Dick,  they  were  sent  forth  in  the  most  extreme  desti- 
tution. The  Governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  in  a  letter  to 
the  Lords  of  Trades,  dated  from  Halifax,  October 
l6th,  1752,  writes:  "The  people  in  general  who  were 
sent  over  this  year  by  Mr.  Dick,  complain  of  his 
having  persuaded  them  at  their  embarking  to  sell 
everything,  even  the  little  bedding  they  had;  by 
which  means  they  have  lain  on  the  bare  decks  and 
platforms  during  their  voyage,  and  are  still  destitute 
of  all  kinds  of  bedding.  This  has  caused  the  death  of 
many  both  on  the  passage  and  here  ashore  since  they 
landed.  *  *  *  *  j^-  looks  as  if  it  was  done  to  give 
room  for  crowding  a  greater  number  of  people  into 
the  ships  that  brought  them." 

When  it  is  remembered  that  these  emigrants  were 


!  1- 


■t« 


n. 


i't; 


102 


ACAIHI':    AM)    TIIU:    ACADIANS. 


now  exposed  to  the  unaccustomed  rigors  of  the  severe 
northern  winter;  meagrely  (cd,  poorly  clad,  sleeping 
like  the  Indians  on  beds  of  pine  boughs,  in  houses 
that  were  mere  temporary  booths  of  bark  and  boughs, 
and  all  unused  to  hardships  such  as  these,  it  will  not 
be  a  matter  of  surprise  that  the  mortality  among  thctn 
was  awful.  Neither  can  the  inhuman  conduct  of  Dick, 
the  emigration  agent,  be  sufficiently  lamented. 

liut  despite  all  hardships,  the  coast  of  Chebucto 
harbor,  whereon  the  site  of  Halifax  was  located,  now 
presented  a  busy  scene.  A  landing  was  effected,  stores 
and  provisions  taken  ashore,  the  work  of  chopping 
down  the  trees  which  clothed  the  sloping  hillsides  to 
the  water's  edge,  erecting  dwellings  and  preparing  for 
the  coming  winter,  was  at  once  begun.  There  were 
no  mills.  The  lumber  for  a  few  frame  houses  was 
brought  from  Boston  ;  but  most  of  the  buildings  were 
of  the  most  primitive  construction,  being  built  of  poles 
stuck  in  the  ground  or  logs  laid  upon  each  other, 
chinked  with  moss  and  roofed  with  bark.  Housed 
in  such  miserable  quarters,  three-fourths  of  the  Lunen- 
burg settlers  died  within  the  first  year  after  their  land- 
ing. The  authority  for  this  statement  is  the  Rev.  Jean 
Baptiste  Morreau,  minister  in  Halifax  and  Lunen- 
burg, 1750-1770. 

But  it  will   be  necessary  here  to  make  a  dividing 


r 


Km  LISH    colonization — HALIFAX. 


103 


line  to  separate  the  history  of  the  Halifax  settlers  from 
that  of  the  Lunenburgers.  They  were  one  in  faith 
and  doctrine,  one  in  polity  and  discipline,  yet  their 
history  is  distinct.  They  are  separated  from  one  an- 
other as  though  divided  by  continents  and  oceans. 


I 


r 


I 


n 


C:> 


11 


Mil 


i ;:. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  A  CHURCH. 

SOME  colonists  coming  to  America  brought  their 
pastors  with  them,  but  others  were  not  so  fortunate; 
and  among  the  latter  were  the  Lutherans  in  the  colony 
at  Halifax.  Various  mission  societies  were  formed  in 
Europe  among  the  Lutherans,  Moravians,  and  in  the 
Church  of  England,  to  furnish  the  people  of  the  new 
world  with  the  means  of  grace.  One  of  the  earliest  of 
these  societies  was  that  organized  in  England,  called 
"The  Society  for  Promoting  the  Knowledge  of  Christ 
in  Foreign  Parts,"  with  which  the  Lutheran  Church 
on  the  continent  must  have  been  in  some  way  con- 
nected, having  her  directors  in  it,  such  as  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Ziegenhagen,  Lutheran  Chaplain  at  the  Court  of  St. 
James,  London  ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Urlsperger,  pastor  of 
St.  Anna  Lutheran  Church  of  Augsburg  ;  and  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Francke,  son  of  the  founder  of  the  Orphan  House 
at  Halle.  This  missionary  association  is  noticed  in 
many  historical  works  under  its  Latin  title,  "  Socictas 
dc  Proinovcnda  Cognitionc  CJiristi''  and  was  exceed- 
ingly effective  in  this  country. 

At  a  \ery  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  newly 

(IU4) 


>U- 


THE    FOUNDING    ()!•    A    CHURCH. 


105 


formed  Nova  Scotir.  settlements,  this  Society  deter- 
mined to  send  clergymen  and  schoolmasters  to  them. 
By  request  of  the  Lords  of  Trades  and  Plantations,  it 
was  agreed  to  send  six  of  each  as  soon  as  their  ser- 
vices should  be  required.  The  first  missionaries  who 
came  accompanied  the  expedition  of  Governor  Corn- 
wallis ;  they  were  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Anvvell  and  Jean 
]5aptiste  Morreau,  who  were  followed  in  the  summer 
of  the  same  year  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  Tutty.  Mr. 
An  well  was  soon  recalled ;  but  Mr.  Tutty  was  con- 
nected with  the  German  Lutherans,  whose  fortunes 
interest  us  most,  by  the  fact  that  he  ministered  to  them 
in  their  own  tongue,  and  administered  the  communion 
to  a  large  congregation.  But  he  was  no  Lutheran 
minister,  and  why  none  was  sent  by  the  venerable  So- 
ciety, is  one  of  the  strange  and  incomprehensible 
things.  For  there  was  a  large  congregation,  fully 
competent  to  support  a  pastor,  as  shall  presently  ap- 
pear, and  doubtless  ardently  desirous  to  secure  one. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Tutty,  who  appears  to  have  been  a 
good  linguist,  reported  to  the  Society  that  he  had,  in 
addition  to  his  duties  as  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of 
England  ministering  to  the  English  colonists,  also  ad- 
ministered to  the  Germans.  But  the  first  missionary 
employed  directly  in  the  oversight  of  the  Germans 
was  Mr.  Burger,  a  German  Swiss  minister,  who  went 


jtil 


lOo 


ACADIE  AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


,1    I 


to  England  in  1752,  and  received  ordination  from  the 
Bishop  of  London.  He  translated  the  communion 
service  of  the  Church  of  England  into  the  German 
language,  and  returned,  bringing  with  him  a  supply  of 
Bibles  and  Prayer  Books  in  the  German  tongue,  for 
the  use  of  the  settlers.  He  probably  received  only 
deacon's  orders,  for  Mr.  Tutty  still  continued  to  ad- 
minister communion  to  the  German  congregation,  for 
which  purpose  alone  he  appears  to  have  studied  Ger- 
man. Mention  is  made  in  the  Society's  report  for 
1753  of  his  having  converted  and  baptized  a  German 
Jew,  who  communed  with  his  brethren  on  the  follow- 
ing Sunday.  Mr.  Tutty  died  in  1754.  The  services 
which  he  conducted  were  held  in  the  building  at  the 
corner  of  Gerrish  and  Brunswick  streets. 

The  earliest  document  in  existence  among  the  re- 
cords which  begin  with  the  history  of  that  building,  is 
a  deed  from  John  Samuel  Gross  making  a  bequest  to 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  which  bears  date 
October  twelfth,  1752.  This  quaint  old  document 
gives  evidence  of  several  things,  the  one  of  chief  inter- 
est being  that  there  was  at  that  early  date  an  organi- 
zation in  existence  there,  known  as  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  that  it  was  competent  to  hold  real  estate. 
The  document  runs  as  follows  : 

"Whereas  I,  in  my  present  sickness,  being  taken 


THE   FOUNDING  OF   A   CHURCH. 


to; 


dangerously  ill,  not  knowing  how  long  I  may  live,  as 
after  my  death  having  no  heirs  in  this  country  to 
leave  unto  them  what  I  may  have,  I  have  Resolved  to 
give  unto  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  for  their 
use  and  own  property,  a  Lott  with  a  Barrack  or  Hutt 
on  it  (containing  50  feet  in  the  front,  and  250  feet  in 
the  rear),  standing  in  the  north  suburbs  of  Halifax,  in 
the  upper  street,  between  the  house  of  George  Stork 
and  Michael  Clausner;  and  that  ye  aforesaid  Lutheran 
Church  is  to  have  and  to  hold  the  aforesaid  Lott  and 
Barrack  to  their  own  sole  use  and  property  forever. 
Butt  if  it  should  be  God's  will  that  I  should  recover 
of  this  sickness,  Nevertheless  the  aforesaid  Lott  and 
Barrack  is  to  be  to  the  use  of  the  aforesaid  Lutheran 
Church  as  above,  only  granting  me  the  Barrack  to 
live  in  this  winter. 

Humbly  petitioning  His  Excellency  Governor  Hop- 
son  to  grant  that  this  my  will  may  be  granted  unto  ye 
aforesaid  Church,  in  confirmation  of  the  above,  have 
signed  with  my  own  hand,     Halifax,  Oct.,  12,  1752. 
Witness:  JOHN  SAMUEL  GROSS. 

Charles  Hagelseib, 

Jno.  Adam  Smith, 

Matthias  Ilsanger. 

Among   the  first   buildings  erected    in   Halifax  at 
public  expense  was  St.  Paul's  church,  held  and  occu- 


- 1 


' !'  i 


lo8 


ACADIE   AND  THE   ACADIANS. 


pied  by  Episcopalians  in  connection  with  the  Church 
of  England.  The  Lutheran  and  Calvinistic  settlers 
who  came  with  Cornwallis,  and  later,  were  compelled 
by  law  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  this  edifice,  but  the 
Lutherans,  at  least,  were  not  in  agreement  with  the 
doctrines  therein  taught.  The  Augsburg  Confession, 
and  not  the  Thirty-nine  Articles,  set  forth  an  epitome 
of  their  belief,  and  between  the  two  the  difference  is 
not  imaginary.  We  therefore  find  the  Lutheran  set- 
tlers assembling  in  private  houses,  for  the  worship  of 
God,  and  later  proceeding  to  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice  of  their  own.  In  their  private  assemblages  the 
word  of  God  was  read  and  commented  on,  and  the 
service  of  singing  and  prayer  led  by  the  faithful  school- 
master, Johann  Gottfried  Jorpel,  who  accompanied  the 
settlers  from  Germany.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that 
in  the  midst  of  their  sufferings  they  forgot  God.  The 
path  of  trial  often  leads  near  to  Him,  and  that  path 
they  now  were  traveling.  Trained  in  the  fear  and 
love  and  trust  of  Him  from  their  earliest  childhood, 
these  pious  people  now  clung  to  the  God  of  their 
fathers.  Hence  we  find  one  of  their  first  recorded  acts 
to  have  been  the  assembling  of  themselves  together  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  organizing  as  a  distinctly 
Lutheran  congregation  as  nearly  complete  as  it  could 
be  without  a   regularly  ordained   pastor  called   and 


1 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  A  CHURCH. 


109 


established  among  them.  They  had  their  board  of 
officers,  consisting  of  two  elders  and  five  deacons,  who 
were  their  recognized  leaders.  They  held  their  meet- 
ings for  the  worship  of  God  distinct  from  and  inde- 
pendently of  any  other  organization  from  the  very 
beginning  of  the  history  of  Halifax.  It  is  necessary  to 
be  emphatic  and  precise  in  this  statement  because  it 
has  been  asserted  with  effrontery  and  accepted  where 
"the  wish  was  father  to  the  thought"  that  "the  Ger- 
man settlers,  both  Lutheran  and  Calvinist,  were  willing 
to  conform  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  attached 
themselves  to  her  communion."  *  How  this  may 
have  been  with  respect  to  the  Calvinistic  portion  of 
these  people  is  at  the  best  doubtful,  while  so  far  as  the 
Lutherans  were  concerned,  the  facts  do  not  bear  out 
the  statement  as  the  truth.  So  far  to  the  contrary  do 
they  lead,  that  this  particular  statement  must  be 
remanded  to  its  responsible  author  as  a  particular 
falsehood.  The  Lutherans  did  not  attach  themselves 
to  the  Church  of  England,  either  willingly  or  unwill- 
ingly, but  the  Church  of  England  did  use  efforts  of 
every  kind  to  attach  them,  and  did  succeed  in  attach- 
ing their  property. 

*See  Sketch  of  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  Cluiich  of  EngUmd  in 
the  British  North  American  Provinces.  Hy  I'hos.  Heaniish  Akins, 
Esq.,  Hahfax,  1849. 


I' Si 


no 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADlAKS. 


History  shall  speak  in  proof.  After  being  compelled 
to  assist  in  the  erection  of  St.  Paul's,  the  Lutherans, 
rich  in  faith,  out  of  their  deep  poverty  secured  a  lot 
on  Brunswick  street  whereon  they  proceeded  to  erect 
a  church  in  which,  after  its  completion,  they  held  ser- 
vices every  Sunday.  This  peculiar  mark  of  their  at- 
tachment to  the  Church  of  Enc^land  is  recorded  with 
refreshing  simplicity  on  page  seventeen  of  the  work 
already  quoted.  But  now,  in  order  to  historical  exact- 
ness in  the  presentation  of  these  facts  and  many  others, 
the  parish  register  of  St.  George's  Church  itself  shall 
speak.  This  register  extends  from  March  twenty- 
fourth,  1 76 1,  at  which  time  the  new  church  was  con- 
secrated  and  received  its  name,  to  the  year  1807,  when 
the  last  annual  elec  ion  of  Lutheran  officers  was  held. 
It  opens  with  the  statement  "A.  U.  1761,  on  second 
Easter  day,  the  German  Lutheran  church  was  conse- 
ated  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Breynton,  who  preached  from 
John  iv.  22.  The  church  has  been  named  St.  George. 
Jonathan  Belcher,  president  and  commander-in-chief, 
was  present,  and  also  other  distinguished  persons. 
The  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  to  a  large  con- 
gregation." A  further  entry  in  the  same  year  details 
the  disbanding  of  a  certain  society  and  the  transfer  of 
its  funds  to  St.  George's  congregation.  It  would  ap- 
pear that  this   association,  known  as  "The  Funeral 


THE    FOUNDING    OF    A    CFIURCH. 


II  1 


Fees  and  Friendly  Society,"  was  originally  a  union  of 
the  Lutheran  settlers  made  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
proper  burial  to  their  dead.  The  register  says  :  "It  is 
to  be  hoped  that  the  respective  friends  or  descendants 
may  also  scatter  roses  on  the  graves  of  the  members 
of  the  Society,  for  in  reality  they  have  been  the  found- 
ers of  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  But 
honor  does  not  belong  to  us,  to  God  alone."  No)i 
nobis,  non  nobis,  scd  tuo  Nomine  da  gloriain,  0  Doniintf 
The  names  appended  were  once  well  known  in  the 
city  of  Halifax: 


William  Schwartz, 
Carl  Hagelseib, 
Gottlieb  Schermiller, 
Fred.  Becker, 


Christian  Peitsch, 
Peter  Smith, 
Philip  Knaut, 
John  Schroeder. 


On  the  twentieth  Sunday  after  Trinity,  ten  young 
men  and  seven  young  women  were  confirmed  by  the 
school-master  in  St.  George's  church  after  having  been 
instructed  in  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  this  faith  as 
set  forth  in  the  Small  Catechism  of  Luther.  The  date 
of  this  confirmation  fell  on  the  fourth  of  October,  1761. 
Following  this  entry  in  the  register  appear  a  number 
of  questions  put  to  the  young  people  being  confirmed. 
Number  seventeen  in  the  list  reads  thus :  "  Beloved 
children :  do  you  subscribe  to  this  P^vangeiical  Creed 
with  heart  and  voice;  will  you  maintain  it,  order  your 


'  I 


I! 


^  1 

112 


ACADIE    AND   THE   ACAOIANS. 


whole  life  accordinfr  to  it,  and  because  in  these  coun- 
tries so  many  sects  and  heresies  exist,  will  you  re- 
nounce them  all,  and  abide  by  the  pure  meaning  of  the 
Word  of  God,  and  stand  by  it  for  life  and  for  death?" 

The  questions  continue  to  the  number  of  twenty- 
three,  and  are  closed  with  the  prayer  of  consecration 
in  these  words :  "  May  our  Heavenly  Father  renew  antl 
increase  in  you,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake,  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  for  the  strengthening  of  your  faith,  for 
growth  in  godliness,  for  patience  in  suffering,  and  for 
the  blessed  hope  of  life  everlasting.     Amen." 

Here,  then,  in  honorable  distinction  are  recorded 
the  nanjes  of  these  young  Christians  to  whom  belongs 
forever  the  renown  of  having  been  the  first  Lutherans 
confirmed  in  St.  George's  church,  Halifax,  the  first  in 
Nova  Scotia,  the  first  in  the  British  North  American 
provinces : 


Michael  Silver, 
Caspar  Haun, 
Wm.  Denneman, 
Caspar  Keller, 


John  August  Peitsch, 
Philip  Pullman, 
Matthew  Sauer, 
Andrew  Bauer, 


Christopher  Schmidt,    Philip  Haasz, 
Regina  Kuhn,  Dorothea  Schmidt, 

Elizabeth  Moser,  Catharine  Baargeld, 

Elizabeth  Haun,  Sophia  Schmidt, 

Elizabeth  Roecklin. 


THE    FOUNOING    OF    A    CIIUKCH. 


113 


October  nineteenth,  1 761,  the  quarterly  con^reLja- 
tional  meeting  was  held  and  the  appended  resolutions 
were  adopted : 

"I.  That  at  the  Holy  Coninumion  common  bread 
shall  be  used,  and  no  wafers. 

"  II.  That  those  who  attend  the  Lord's  Supper  shall 
have  their  names  written  down  by  the  school-master, 
or  sexton,  or  by  any  one  else  who  may  be  appointed 
thereto. 

"  III.  That  as  long  as  we  have  no  minister,  printed 
sermons  are  to  be  read  aloud  by  the  school-master,  or 
any  one  else  who  may  be  appointed  thereto. 

"  IV.  That  funerals  occurring  on  Sunday  shall  not 
take  place  before  four  o'clock,  or  when  the  ordinary 
services,  whether  English  or  German,  shall  have  been 
concluded. 

"  V.  That  the  school-master  or  some  other  person 
appointed  thereto  shall  register  the  name  of  the  de- 
ceased in  a  book  provided  for  the  purpose,  with  the 
date. 

"VI.  If  any  of  the  officials  should  die  while  in  of- 
fice, he  shall  have  the  pall  gratis." 

To  these  rules  were  subscribed  the  names  of  the 
officers :  Peter  Bergman,  Otto  Wm.  Schwartz,  Gott- 
lieb Schermiller,  Freiderich  Kohl  and  Geo.  Hohl. 

On   the    ninth   of    December     1761,   the    German 


ra 


'  if) 


ibi 


i  t 

m 


i       Mi 


^1 


rrr 

s 

1. 

114 


ACADIK    AND    TIIK    ACADIANS. 


people  of  the  colony  met  vvitli  a  heavy  loss  in  the 
death  of  their  faithful  and  devoted  school-master, 
Johann  Gottfried  Jorpel,  who  entered  into  his  rest 
after  a  short  illness,  at  the  age  of  fifty- five.  He  had 
been  appointed  to  his  responsible  position  on  the 
twenty-ninth  of  June,  1760,  and  had  discharged  his 
duties  with  all  possible  fidelity.  The  fact  that  he 
should  have  framed  and  put  such  a  question  to  the 
young  people  whom  he  confirmed  as  that  above  re- 
corded is  a  signal  proof  of  his  excellence  of  mind 
and  devotion  to  the  truth,  and  entitles  him  to  a  place 
of  honor  here  as  well  as  in  the  Church  Register, 
where  an  affectionate  minute  of  his  death  is  thus  re- 
corded : 

*'  We  insert  as  a  memorial  in  our  church  book  that 
our  much-loved  school-master,  Johann  Gottfried  Jor- 
pel,  died  on  9  December,  1761.  He  attended  to  his 
duties  with  all  his  heart.  To  his  credit  be  it  said 
that  he  was  beloved  by  everybody  on  account  of  his 
integrity,  and  is  generally  lamented,  but  especially  by 
his  young  pupils,  who  have  shed  tears  at  his  depart- 
ure. May  the  Lord  cause  his  soul  to  rejoice  through- 
out eternity ! " 


;''. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"CONVEYING"  A  CHURCH. 

NOW  that  the  fact  has  been  established  that  the 
Lutherans  had  formed  an  independent  organiza- 
tion, and  were  owners  of  property  in  the  city  of 
Halifax,  it  remains  to  be  shown  how  they  were  dis- 
possessed. Although  they  at  first  had  no  minister  of 
their  own,  yet  their  organization  was  compact,  their 
discipline  strict,  their  theological  basis  correct,  and 
their  financial  affairs  administered  with  discretion.  As 
a  congregation  they  grew  and  increased  in  numbers, 
wealth  and  influence.  Harmony  prevailed  in  all  their 
counsels,  and  their  worldly  affairs  prospered.  But 
they  had  no  minister.  They  were  a  body  without  a 
visible  head.  The  Church  of  England  clergy  officiated 
upon  special  occasions,  administering  the  communion 
and  performing  official  acts  among  them;  for  which 
services  they  were  always  promptly  and  liberally  paid, 
but  not  salaried.  Their  pay  was  always  given  as  a 
present.  This  left  Ihe  Lutherans  free  from  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Church  of  England. 

But  now  the  faithful  schoolmaster,  around  whom 
they  rallied,  was  dead.      Other    old   members  were 

("5) 


m 


>l^ 


■ ; 


ii6 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


passing  away,  each  as  he  went  weakening  the  bonds 
which  bound  the  congregation  to  the  traditions  of  the 
elders,  and  loosening  the  attachment  to  the  fatherland ; 
each  as  he  departed  decreasing  the  hold  of  the  con- 
gregation upon  the  faith  of  the  fathers.  The  younger 
members  were  rapidly  becoming  Anglicized,  losing 
by  degrees  their  German  language  and  German  ways, 
and  losing  also  their  hold  upon  the  doctrines  of  the 
Church,  in  which  none  of  them  had  been  so  thoroughly 
taught  as  those  who  had  enjoyed  the  ministration  of 
pastors  over  the  sea.  And  yet  in  the  face  of  all  these 
difficulties  the  congregation  not  only  lived,  but  grew 
and  flourished.  The  cM  church  would  no  longer  ac- 
commodate the  increasing  numbers.  It  was  resolved 
to  build  a  new  and  larger  one.  The  foundations  were 
laid,  the  work  well  under  way,  and  then,  strange  to  re- 
late, the  Lutheran  congregation,  the  Lutheran  name, 
and  the  property  of  the  Lutherans,  together  disappear 
as  mysteriously,  as  completely  as  though  the  earth 
had  opened  and  swallowed  them,  or  the  clouds  had 
received  them  out  of  our  sight.  True,  the  little  old 
church  on  Brunswick  street  still  stands,  and  the  Round 
churchj  founded  by  the  Lutheran  congregation  to 
serve  in  its  stead,  remains,  and  the  people  lived;  but 
people  and  churches  alike  had  lost  their  Lutheran 
name   and  identity.     They  were  no  longer  Lutheran 


*'C(>NVr.\  I\(."    A    CHURCH. 


117 


people  nor  Lutlicran  churches.  Why?  A  cloud  had 
indeed  received  them,  and  between  them  and  us  that 
cloud  still  rolls.  History  has  not  pierced  its  enfoldinj^ 
gloom.  The  transactions  by  which  the  conjurers'  trick 
was  effected,  like  other  transactions  in  the  black  art, 
choose  darkness  rather  than  light.  To  them  mystery 
is  more  congenial  than  history.  But  recourse  to  the 
old  Parish  Register  will  throw  some  light  upon  them. 
To  it  therefore  we  again  resort. 

October  nineteenth,  176 1,  as  we  have  read,  it  was 
resolved:  "  i.  That  at  the  Holy  Communion  common 
bread  shall  be  used,  and  no  wafers."  Here  was  an  in- 
novation of  high  churchmen  resisted.  Who  were 
they  ?  Presumably  the  ministers  oflficiating.  At  the 
same  time  it  was  resolved  :  "  HI.  That  as  long  as  we 
have  no  minister  of  our  faith,  printed  sermons  shall  be 
read  aloud  by  our  schoolmaster  or  any  one  else  ap- 
pointed thereto."  This  denotes  dissatisfaction  with 
the  preaching  they  had  heard,  presumably  on  account 
of  either  language  or  doctrine,  as  handled  by  the 
Church  of  England  clergy.  At  a  meeting  held  De- 
cember third,  1 76 1,  the  mode  of  electing  officers  was 
discussed,  and  balloting  decided  on.  The  minute 
reads  thus :  "  It  is  thonght  desirable  that  each  year  at 
Christmas  new  church-wardens  should  be  chosen  from 
among  the  congregation.      The  choice  is  not  to  be 


!,.,  1' 


Si, 


ilti 


.'♦;i 


I  f 


! 


.  i 


'( 


4 
1 


I? 


if] 


1 1 


I  '•  i' 


»l 


M,:( 


H 


Ii8 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


obligatory,  and  is  to  be  quietly  made.  Each  one  is  to 
hand  in  a  ticket  with  all  the  names  on  it  of  those  who 
are  to  be  proposed.  The  elders  and  church-wardens 
are  to  be  present,  also  the  members  of  the  church  may 
be  present,  that  it  may  not  be  said  that  any  deception 
has  been  practiced.  Half  of  those  chosen  shall  be 
from  the  the  town  and  south  suburb,  the  other  half 
from  the  north  suburb,  all  to  be  members  of  this  con- 
gregation. Only  men  of  good  report  are  to  be  cho- 
sen." This  shows  us  where  the  Germans  were 
located  in  the  growing  city,  and  we  may  infer  from  it 
also  that  an  effort  had  been  made  to  have  members  of 
some  other  congregation,  probably  St.  Paul's,  chosen 
as  officers  of  St.  George's.  It  is  added,  "  Also  we  ap- 
prove that  William  Schwartz  shall  for  certain  reasons 
retain  the  office  of  deacon  as  long  as  it  may  please 
him."  Otto  William  Schwartz  was  a  pillar,  doubtless, 
and  a  fine  Lutheran ;  but  what  could  one  do  alone ! 
He  died  one  hundred  years  ago,  but  his  sepulchre  is 
with  us  unto  this  day.  A  tablet  sacred  to  his  memory 
has  been  inserted  in  the  wall  of  the  new  St.  George's, 
commonly  called  the  "  Round  Church,"  which  he 
helped  to  build,  at  the  left  of  the  pulpit,  just  above  the 
place  where  ho  sat  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  attend. 
He  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  of  good  business 
qualifications,  and  among  his  brethren  possessed  of 
the  most  wealth. 


"conveying'*  a  church. 


119 


The  Register  specifies  the  duties  of  the  officers. 
They  shall  be  "  called  together  every  quarter  to  count 
the  money  collected  on  Sundays  and  enter  the  amount 
in  the  Register ;  to  pay  all  expenses,  if  sufficient ;  to 
consult  together  about  any  disorders  which  may  have 
crept  in  and  to  remedy  such;  to  take  care  that  the  ser- 
vices of  the  church  be  properly  conducted,  the  sacra- 
ments administered  at  stated  times,  the  school  prop- 
erly supported,  the  church  kept  in  good  repair,  the 
records  faithfully  kept,  and  accounts  in  good  order. 
They  shall  discharge  their  duties  with  a  desire  only 
for  God's  glory,  not  expecting  reward."  *  *  *  "  The 
congregation  is  not  to  suppose  that  the  officers  are 
bound  to  enter  into  all  manner  of  disputes.  They  may 
do  so  as  friends  and  neighbors,  but  not  in  their  official 
capacity.  With  regard  to  the  church,  however,  and 
what  belongs  thereto,  they  are  in  duty  bound  as 
parents  and  guardians,  as  elders  and  officers,  to  care 
for  the  same  with  all  fidelity.  Thus  have  we,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  of  our  ability,  approved  and  agreed  to 
do,  and  hereunto  subscribed  our  names." 

"On  New  Year's  Day,  1762,  the  officers  resigned, 
and  the  following  persons  were  elected:  Andreas 
Schenck,  George  Beyer,  Adam  Isler,  Ernest  Peiper; 
Otto  William  Schwartz  held  over.** 

"On  Easter  Monday,  A.  D.  1762,  the  Holy  Supper 


\m 


m 


li 


'1 


!l< 


i  ' 


il^l 


$ 


r 


120 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIAKS. 


i  ': 


was  administered  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  Breynton  and 
Wood,  to  a  large  congregation;  and  again  by  the  same 
reverend  gentlemen  on  the  seventeenth  Sunday  after 
Trinity." 

In  1763  the  officers  elected  were  Peter  Schmidt, 
George  Marlin,  Christoph  Keyser.  The  Holy  Com- 
munion was  celebrated  on  Easter  Monday  and  on  the 
nineteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity. 

In  1764  the  officers  elected  were  Peter  Bergmann, 
Johann  Pfanndorfer,  Reinhardt  Jacob  and  George  Jost. 
The  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  by  Drs.  Breynton 
and  Wood,  the  former  preaching  from  Heb.  xii.  1-2 
in  the  English  language. 

Thus  the  Register  continues  to  give  the  dates  of  Dr. 
Breynton's  ministrations,  and  the  account  book,  kept 
in  German,  always  notes  that  after  these  services  a 
present  was  made  to  the  Herr  Prcdigcr. 

At  the  communion  on  Easter  Monday,  1765,  Dr. 
Breynton  officiated  and  again  preached  in  the  English 
language,  our  notes  say  from  2.  Cor.  5th  verse,  (prob- 
ably 2.  Cor.  xiii.  5),  after  which  "The  officers  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Evangelical  church  resolved  that 
no  setting  forth  of  the  Gospel  should  be  made  in  our 
church  contrary  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Evangelical 


"conveying"  a  church. 


12t 


r 


Signed  by 
the  Deacons 


Lutheran  Confession,  and  not  in  the  English  hmguage. 
To  this  article  we  subscribe: 

Otto  William  Schwartz 

Philip  Brehm 

Gottfried  Jairch 

Peter  Artz 

Conrad  Fosseler." 

Here,  in  all  probability,  the  proselyting  tendency 
became  too  manifest  to  be  overlooked,  and  aroused  the 
suspicions  of  the  confiding  Germans.  Well  would  it 
have  been  for  them  had  they  seen  more  clearly  and 
resisted  more  steadfastly  the  hidden  design  which  was 
being  so  cautiously  pursued  by  their  dear  English 
friends.  Had  they  then  known  what  we  now  know, 
they  would  have  been  justified  in  regarding  the  friend- 
ship manifested  by  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of  England 
with  suspicion  and  distrust.  It  was  the  friendship 
of  the  hawk  for  the  dove,  covering  and  devouring  it. 
Why  the  people  of  this  large  and  flourishing  congre- 
gation did  not  secure  the  services  of  a  clergyman  of 
their  own  faith,  here  becomes  a  pertinent  query.  The 
number  of  communicants  was  at  that  date  large 
enough  to  maintain  a  pastor ;  they  owned  their  own 
church,  school-house  and  burial  ground;  they  might 
have  supported  a  minister.  But  Lutheran  ministers 
were  scarcer  then  than  they  are  now,  and  even  now 


'f'ii 


'■tN 


♦■ 


'  i 


I  f 
'■  ■  ' 


'  t 


\22 


ACADlE   ANt)   THE   ACADIAKS. 


they  are  fewer  in  proportion  to  the  Lutheran  popula- 
tion of  the  New  World  than  those  of  any  sect  or  de- 
nomination. On  this  account  many  a  Lutheran  con- 
L^regation  in  the  United  States,  as  well  as  Canada,  must 
live  long  without  a  pastor.  The  demand  far  exceeds 
the  supply. 

Those  people,  moreover,  had  difficulties  in  commu- 
nicating with  the  other  provinces  (now  States)  and  with 
I'Airope,  where  Lutheran  ministers  were,  of  which  we 
know  little.  Another  reason  was  doubtless  that  they 
were  dissuaded  by  the  English  friends  whose  services 
were  so  freely  given ;  and  at  the  same  time  they  may 
have  been  secretly  hindered  and  thwarted  in  any  effort 
toward  procuring  a  clergyman  of  their  own  faith  by 
the  same  peculiar  friends,  as  the  Lutherans  were  being 
hindered  and  thwarted  at  Lunenburg  about  the  same 
time.  There  is  a  chapter  of  unwritten  history  in  con- 
nection with  this  whole  subject,  which,  if  it  were  made 
known,  might  even  yet  make  some  cheeks  mantle 
themselves  with  shame.  Where  are  the  descendants 
of  these  Lutherans?  Where  is  their  property?  Lost 
to  the  Church  of  their  fathers  through  the  shrewd  and 
treacherous  manipulation  of  the  party  in  power. 
Shakespeare  says  of  stealing  : 

«"  Convey'  the  wise  it  «all." 


mi 


"conveying"  a  church. 


123 


"Conveyed"  let  it  be  called,  by  processes  crooked 
and  conscienceless,  into  the  hands  of  that  denomina- 
tion noted  for  its  zealous  and  often  impudent  attempts 
to  proselyte  Lutherans.  There  may  be  many  to  take 
offense  at  a  statement  like  this.  If  so,  let  them  rise 
and  explain  the  facts  away.  Let  these  wrongs  be 
made  right.  Let  them  remove  the  cause  of  offense, 
and  nothing  further  will  be  said  to  disturb  their  com- 
placency. The  Lutherans  themselves  are  not  to  be 
exonerated  from  censure.  Had  they  exercised  more 
foresight,  had  they  but  closed  their  church  at  this 
juncture  against  the  officious  intermeddling  of  the 
worthies  whose  actions  called  forth  the  resolutions 
quoted,  and  denied  themselves  the  sacraments  until 
they  could  have  received  them  from  a  minister  of 
their  own  faith,  the  record  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
the  city  of  Halifax  would  have  been  vastly  more  hon- 
orable. 

At  a  time  when  the  life  of  the  congregation  was  be- 
ing secretly  undermined,  the  Register  of  St,  George's 
church  is  taken  up  with  petty  and  trifling  details 
about  petty  trifles.  At  a  time  when  the  foundations 
of  the  historic  confessional  Lutheran  faith  and  reli- 
gion should  have  been  laid  deep  and  strong  and 
broad  for  the  descendants  of  these  people  to  build 
upon,  not  alone  in  the  city,  but  also  in  the  outlying 


t'-j 

"  h.  11 


u^i 


l^ 


«  ■\A 


'ir 


124 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


1  t" 


settlements  which  they  were  forming,  those  who 
should  have  been  laboring  to  lay  them  were  being 
luUetl  to  slumber,  their  time  and  attention  given  to 
aff'jirt  of  the  very  least  importance.  Nothing  worthy 
this  body  of  Lutherans,  with  the  opportunities  pre- 
sented them  in  the  opening  and  development  of  the 
new  country,  has  been  recorded  of  them.  Like  D'An- 
ville's  fleet,  "they  never  gained  a  victory."  The  bulk 
of  the  Register  is  made  up  of  entries  trifling  as  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"Jan.  1st,  1766. — The  officers  found  it  expedient 
that  50  shillings  quarterly  be  paid  Mr.  Hagelseib  for 
reading  and  singing  and  ringing  the  bell." 

"June  24th,  1770. — Paulus  Stukitz  has  made  a  pres- 
ent to  St.  George's  church  of  an  excellent  Book  of 
Homilies,  by  Dr.  Henry  Muller." 

"Jan.  23,  1773.— Mr.  Gottlieb  Milch  presented  the 
church  a  large  chest,  suitable  for  keeping  the  records 
and  monies  in." 

Perhaps  this  may  be  that  wondcful,  old,  triple- 
locked,  iron-bound  coffer  which  ornaments  the  pastor's 
study  in  Lunenburg,  a  sort  of  indestructible  ecclesias- 
tical heirloom  passed  down  from  the  "  conveyed"  con- 
gregation to  their  more  fortunate  and  faithful  brethren 
there.  If  so,  it  is  at  least  something  saved  out  of  the 
general  wreck,  and  as  such,  a  prize  to  be  treasured ;  at 
any  rate,  it  is  a  curious  relic. 


''conveying"  a  church. 


125 


n 
[e 
It 


But  here  the  Rev.  Dr.  Breynton  re-appears  upon 
the  scene,  with  a  sermon  April  12th,  in  the  same  year, 
on  Matt.  xxii.  2,  3,  To  the  entry  recording  this  is 
attached  the  significant  observation :  "  N.  B. — In  the 
Enghsh  language."  Pity  the  poor,  single-minded  Ger- 
mans of  the  olden  time,  who  thought  all  men,  at  least 
in  religion,  were  as  honest  as  themselves.  They  saw 
their  faith  and  their  language  going  together.  Who 
can  censure  them  for  their  tenacious  adherence  to  the 
language  of  their  fatherland?  In  holding  it  fast  they 
believed  lay  their  only  hope  of  retaining  and  perpetu- 
ating among  themselves  their  religious  faith.  Could 
they  have  been  assured  that  their  religion  would  not 
suffer  through  the  decadence  of  the  German  language, 
they  would  have  given  it  up  more  readily.  But  to 
this  day  there  are  Germans  in  plenty  who  think  there 
can  be  no  true  preaching  or  setting  forth  in  other  kind 
of  Lutheran  doctrine,  except  it  be  in  the  German  lan- 
guage. Some  even  more  radical,  one  especially  very 
dear  to  me,  declared  German  to  be  the  language  used 
in  heaven.  Another  identified  the  Lutheran  religion 
with  the  German  language,  and  declared  there  wa.s 
"  no  religion  so  good  as  this  German  religion."  The 
former  has  fathomed  the  mystery  now.  He  is  in 
heaven.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  there  he  will  meet 
Otto  William   Schwartz,  that  they  may  converse    in 


^v. 


•  i- 


I    ':<l 


•i 


'';i| 

■  I.    ,'^* 

i  }          \f 

■  1: ,  it 

/\]\:  1 

:      f  '  i\ 

ii'    i 

!                                                                .4 

'     »    1      - 

1    i 

m 

t 

M 

nr^ 


I  : 


u 


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126 


ACADIE    AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


the  German  language  of  the  things  that  are  written 
here ;  but  if  Drs.  Breynton  and  Wood  are  there,  they 
will  no  doubt  hear  some  vigorous  English  too.  "  That 
Dr.  Breynton  could,  and  did,  preach  sometimes  in  both 
languages,"  says  the  present  incumbent  of  St.  George's, 
"  is  testified  to  by  an  old  resident  of  the  city,  now  liv- 
ing, who  says  that  his  grandmother  related  how  she 
plodded  up  the  cart-road  at  the  dedication  of  St. 
George's  church  in  1761,  when  Dr.  Breynton  preached 
first  in  English  and  afterwards  in  German."  So  in 
heaven  they  can  all  talk  the  matter  over  together. 

The  Register  continues  :  "As  in  the  year  1759  an 
article  concerning  interments  was  made,  so  it  is  now 
agreed,  on  April  lOth,  1774,  that  if  any  one  is  to  be 
interred,  the  school-master  or  the  sexton  is  to  be  paid 
for  his  trouble  in  unlocking  the  church  and  pointing 
out  the  place  for  burial,  for  each  funeral  2s.  6d.,  and 
for  children  2  shillings." 

In  1776,  the  new  officers  chosen  were  Anthony 
Hanery  and  Conrad  Pentz.  The  name  of  Anthony 
Hanery  first  appears  on  the  records  in  1 77 1.  He 
came  to  Halifax  after  the  fall  of  Louisbourg,  where 
he  had  served  as  a  musician,  carrying  a  fife  in  one  of 
the  King's  regiments.  He  was  a  printer  by  trade,  is- 
sued, in  January,  1769,  the  first  newspaper  that  ever 
appeared   in   Nova  Scotia,*  and  for  many  years  was 

*"  T/(e  Nova  Scotia  Chronicle^''  see  Murdoch,  p.  234,  Vol.  II, 


"conveying"  a  church. 


127 


King's  printer  and  published  the  Royal  Gazette.  He 
died  in  1800,  and  his  tomb-stone  is  one  of  the  few  in 
good  preservation  in  the  church-yard  attached  to  the 
old  German  church. 

"On  April  30th,  1777,  the  congregation  had  a  valu- 
ation of  the  lot  which  John  Tritler  had  rented  for 
seven  years  for  the  sum  of  £\  11,  which  sum  the  said 
Tritler  promises  to  pay  each  New  Year's  day,  and  in 
case  of  his  death  his  heirs  are  bound  to  continue  the 
same."  The  new  officers  chosen  this  year  were  Bal- 
thazar Gebhard  and  Daniel  Marlow. 

"Jan.  1st,  1778. — To-day  a  church  meeting  was 
held,  and  it  was  found  expedient  that  Mr.  Ludwig 
Hagelsieb  should  have  £2  10  quarterly  for  reading 
and  singing  and  ringing  the  bell.  Two  church 
wardens  resigned,  and  in  their  place  the  congregation 
appointed  Philip  Palmer  and  Richard  Jacob.  It  was 
found  expedient  that  Mr.  Christian  Metzler,  the  or- 
ganist, should  have  a  quarterly  recompense  for  play- 
ing the  organ  —say  ;^o  17  6." 

"Jan.  1st,  1779. — Two  church  wardens  resigned, 
and  in  their  places  were  appointed  Mr.  Melchoir  Lip- 
pert  and  Mr.  George  Schaffer." 

"June  28th,  1780. — Church  meeting  held  and  a 
written  agreement  made,  to  which  Caspar  Laun  sub- 
scribed, namely,  to  hire  a  church  lot  and  yearly  20 


«    ill 


.ii 


11,  y 


t 


\i 


12$ 


AC  A  DIE    AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


Spanish  dollars  to  pay  to  the  church,  and  for  his  heirs 
after  him  to  do  the  same." 

"  Signed  by  Caspar  Laun." 

In  this  year,  at  the  same  date,  "  it  was  agreed  upon 
that  some  of  the  church  wardens  of  St.  George  should 
go  to  those  of  St.  Paul  and  let  the  so-called  estate  of 
Melchoir  for  a  certain  term  of  some  years.  The  church, 
St.  Paul's,  is  to  receive  20  Spanish  dollars,  according  to 
agreement,  and  the  remaining  profits  should  be  given 
to  St.  George's.  The  estate  is  to  be  let  for  seven 
years,  as  was  agreed  upon  on  the  20th  of  March.  In 
order  that  the  estate  might  be  kept  in  good  condi- 
tion and  its  profits  duly  collected,  a  church  warden, 
namely,  Richard  Jacob,  has  been  appointed  to  that 
office.  He  is  to  appear  at  the  annual  church  meeting 
to  give  an  account  of  the  income  and  expenditure  of 
the  estate ;  at  the  request  of  the  whole  meeting  to  re- 
sign his  office,  and  another  is  to  be  chosen  in  his 
place,  which  office  he  is  to  perform  gratis  (without 
expense  to  the  church). 

**  Otto  William  Schwartz, 
"  Peter  Artz, 
"  Richard  Jacob." 

Here  is  an  item  of  interest  to  those  who  study  the 
relation  of  cuise  to  effect  in  the  transfer  of  this  Luth- 


c^)^•\l•.^l^(i     a  church. 


129 


eran  piopert)'  to  Kpiscopalian  hands.  An  estate  is 
mentioned  upon  which  St.  Paul's,  without  owning,  ap- 
pears to  have  gotten  a  claim  worth  20  Spanish  dol- 
lars per  year,  but  of  which  St.  George's  appears  to 
have  control.  It  is  known  as  "the  so-called  estate  of 
Melchoir."  Melchoir,  an  aged  German  of  some 
means — and  it  did  not  require  so  large  an  amount  to 
constitute  a  man  of  wealth  then  as  now — is  about  to 
die.  But  in  this  new  country  he  has  not  an  heir  kin 
to  himself  to  whom  he  shall  leave  his  property.  He 
consults  with  his  fellow-members  of  St.  George's 
church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  faithful  member  since 
its  organization.  With  their  approval  he  determines 
to  make  God  his  heir  in  the  disposal  of  his  property, 
and  prepares  to  give  it  to  St.  George's  church.  The 
Episcopal  minister,  hearing  of  this  resolution,  visits  the 
old  man  on  his  death-bed,  is  present  when  his  will  is 
drawn,  and  has  inserted,  with  or  without  the  consent 
of  the  dying  man,  Melchoir,  that  clause  by  which  St. 
Paul's  is  placed  on  such  footing  as  to  give  it  the  pre- 
text of  a  legal  right  to  share  with  St.  George's  the 
emoluments  derived  from  the  property  devised.  How 
easy  to  make  "  20  Spanish  dollars,"  to  the  dull  senses 
of  a  dying  man,  read  "  20  Spanish  dollars  per  annum." 
No  doubt  a  pretty  tale  of  Jesuitical  intermeddling 
would  here  be  laid  bare  if  all  were  known.     Well,  in 


m 


\V.' 


\ 


UO 


ACADIE   AND    TilL   ACADIANS. 


the  day  of  judgment  all  things  secret  shall  appear 
openly.     Let  us  wait  and  be  patient. 

"  March  27,  1779. — Church  meeting  was  held,  and 
it  was  agreed,  funds  being  in  hand,  that  a  silver  com- 
munion service  should  be  purchased.  On  the  loth  of 
October,  1779,  *^^  service  was  made  use  of  at  the 
Lord's  Supper  for  the  first  time  by  the  Rev.  John 
Hreynton,  rector  ot  the  English  church  of  St.  Paul. 
The  service  consisted  of  a  silver  flask,  a  silver  chalice, 
one  large  and  one  small  plate,  in  all  four  pieces,  which 
altogether  cost  £$y  2  id.,  fifty-seven  pounds,  2  shil- 
lings and  I  penny.  And  it  has  further  been  concluded 
that  this  service  should  always  be  kept  in  the  house 
of  one  of  the  elders.  Such  sum  has  been  duly  paid 
out  of  the  church  funds  on  January  ist,  1790,  to  Mr. 
Richard  Jacob,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  church  ac- 
counts. 

"  Otto  William  Schwartz, 

"  Peter  Artz." 


CHAPTER  Xll. 
HOW  THE  THING  WAS  DONE. 

THE  German  congregation  did  not  enjoy,  in  the 
colonial  government,  the  same  legal  status  as 
St.  Paul's.  This,  incredible  as  it  may  appear,  was 
made  the  basis  of  action  whereby  the  Lutherans  were 
deprived  of  their  property  by  the  Episcopalians,  to 
whom  it  was  confirmed  with  due  solemnity  and  ver- 
biage of  the  law  by  the  civil  courts.  A  piece  of 
property  at  the  east  end  of  the  German  butidl-ground 
bequeathed  to  the  German  church,  was  seized  upon 
by  St.  Paul's  church  on  the  plea  that  it  alone  repre- 
sented "  the  church."  This  property  was  retained  in 
spite  of  the  efforts  of  St.  George's  to  hold  it,  by  the 
authorities  of  St.  Paul's  church,  as  being  the  only 
representative  of  the  established  church  in  Halifax. 

These  were  now  the  times  of  that  remarkable 
movement  in  contemporary  civil  history  which  re- 
sulted in  the  independence  of  the  thirteen  Provinces 
under  the  name  and  title  of  The  United  States  of 
America.  Canada  had  been  solicited  to  join  the 
revolutionists,  and  had  refused.  More  conservative 
cv«n   than   Canada  and  more  haughty  in  her  treat- 

('3') 


n 


■-.'■ 


t  'J 


if' 
[ft 


n 


I ' 


1 1. 


i  r 


I   f 


IH 


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t>  - 


i;1 


fl 


I 

i!  : 


132 


ACADIE   ANt)   THE  ACAbJAKS. 


ment  of  the  rebels,  as  she  regarded  them,  the  Pro- 
vince of  Nova  Scotia  declined,  by  the  failure  or 
refusal  of  her  Provincial  Parliament,  even  to  answer 
the  letter  asking  her  to  join  in  the  movement.  And 
most  conservative  of  all  British  America  was  the 
city  of  Halifax.  She  stood  upon  her  dignity.  She 
legislated,  at  that  time,  for  the  whole  Province:  in 
fact,  Halifax  was  the  Province.  For  awhile  there 
was  revolution  outside  the  city,  where  the  sparks 
from  the  fire  burning  in  the  States  had  caught,  in- 
somuch that  in  Cumberland  a  band  of  revolutionists 
attacked  the  fort,  and  in  all  Londonderry,  Onslow 
and  Truro,  only  five  persons  could  be  found  who 
would  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  the  members 
from  these  important  districts  were  not  allowed  to 
take  their  seats  in  Parliament.  Still  Halifax  was 
loyal,  the  very  pink  and  perfection  of  loyalty. 

And  now  Great  Britain,  having  failed  to  reduce  the 
thirteen  colonies  to  subjection,  in  1783  was  obliged  to 
declare  and  acknowledge  their  independence.  But  in 
the  new  States  were  the  many  disbanded  soldiers  of 
the  British  army,  also  the  open  and  secret  fi-iends  of 
the  lost  cause  and  opponents  of  the  men  and  measures 
instrumental  in  the  hands  of  God  in  working  out  the 
independence  of  the  United  States.  Fearing  God, 
honoring   the   king,  hating   rebellion,  and   being   as 


ijii'i 


HOW  THE  THING   WAS    t)ONE. 


133 


heartily  hated  by  their  neighbors,  these  persons  found 
it  expedient  to  remove  from  the  States  to  the  more 
congenial  Provinces  yet  remaining  loyal.  And  of  this 
class  of  people,  no  city  of  British  America  received  a 
larger  proportionate  quota  than  Halifax,  unless  it  may 
have  been  Shelburne.  The  reputation  of  Halifax  had 
gone  abroad,  and  whether  deservedly  or  not,  her  name 
stood  as  synonymous  with  unswerving  adherence  to 
king  and  country,  that  is  the  country  over  the  sea, 
Merrie  England.  The  population  of  Nova  Scotia, 
previous  to  this  influx,  was  about  twenty  thousand ; 
but  suddenly  it  sprang  up  to  double  that  number. 
This  had  much  to  do  with  the  affairs  of  the  congrega- 
tion whose  history  is  being  traced  here. 

Among  the  incoming  settlers  was  one  to  whom, 
perhaps,  the  congregation  owes  more  than  to  any 
other  the  loss  of  its  original  Lutheran  name  and 
faith,  and  one  who  should  have  been  its  strongest 
human  bulwark  and  defense  in  its  isolated  and  de- 
fenceless position,  the  Reverend  Bernard  Michael 
Houseal.  He  had  been  pastor  of  a  Lutheran  church 
in  New  York  City,  but  on  account  of  his  loyalist  pro- 
clivities had  resigned,  or  perhaps  had  been  dismissed 
from  his  charge,  and  with  others  like-minded  with  him 
self  upon  matters  political,  had  gone  to  take  up  his 
residence  in  the  ultra-loyal  city  of  Halifax.     Concern 


If 


i 


i*K1 


m 


1 


* 


M 


f'f 


■;ii^ 


i: 


% 


134 


ACADIE  AND   THE   ACAblANS. 


!  h 


ing  him  and  his  early  history,  the  following  has  been 
published  in  his  defense  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Partridge, 
his  successor  as  "  Rector  "  of  vSt.  George's. 

"  The  Reverend  Bernard  Michael  Houseal  was  born 
at  Heilbronn,  Wiirtemburg,  in  the  year  1727.  His 
father  was  a  schoolmaster  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Nothing  is  now  known  of  his  early  years.  But  he  in- 
herited a  vigorous  constitution,  a  commanding  pres- 
ence, and  a  manner  that  carried  him  through  the  most 
aristocratic  society,  and  proclaimed  beyond  doubt  his 
good  birth.  His  early  years  were  spent  in  study,  his 
education  being  received  it  is  probable  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Strassburg,  in  Alsace-Lorraine.  His  diligence 
in  study  and  powers  of  mind  gave  him  at  an  early  age  an 
erudition  which  stood  him  in  good  stead  all  his  life. 
During  his  college  career  he  fell  in  love  with  the 
daughter  of  a  man  of  considerable  standing  and  influ- 
ence in  the  town  of  Ulm,  viz.,  Christopher  Mayer,  de- 
scendant of  a  well-born  and  useful  family  of  that  name, 
whose  members  had  been  public  men  in  Ulm  since 
1545,  when  the  founder  of  the  family  was  Stadthaupt- 
man,  or  stipendiary  magistrate.  We  can  fancy  the 
handsome  student  going,  during  his  vacation,  and  per- 
haps oftener,  the  40  miles  that  separated  him  from  the 
scenes  of  his  studies  and  the  residence  of  his  beloved. 
We  may  picture  to  ourselves  the  stimulus  given  to  his 


m 


HOW    THE    THING    WAs    DUNE. 


135 


midnight  researches  by  the  prospect  of  an  early  mar- 
riages His  enterprise  did  not  at  this  period  lead  his 
mind  beyond  the  confines  of  his  native  province.  But 
other  forces  were  at  work,  which  led  him  finally  to 
these  shores.  In  the  earlier  part  of  the  1 8th  century 
more  than  30,000  persecuted  Salzburgers,  expelled  by 
the  wicked  prince — Archbishop  Leopold  Anthony — 
because  they  would  not  abjure  their  faith,  fled  to 
Prussia,  Holland  and  England.  Of  those  who  went 
to  England,  78  selected  men,  women  and  children, 
were  sent  to  America  free  of  cost  by  the  trustees  of 
the  young  colony  of  Georgia.  They  formed  the  nu- 
cleus of  the  ecclesiastical  settlement  of  Ebenezer, 
Georgia.  In  1752  this  town  was  in  the  full  tide  of 
successful  promise.  Persons  who  had  emigrated  there 
sent  home  letters  full  of  enthusiasm,  which  kindled 
the  hearts  of  many  to  seek  such  a  "  land  of  pure  de- 
light." The  settlement,  apparently,  was  a  pure  theo- 
cratic Lutheran  settlement  of  Germans,  simple  in  life 
and  law,  but  rigid  in  religious  discipline. 

"This  town  is  long  since  dead,  destroyed  by  war. 
But  at  the  period  of  which  we  are  writing  it  was  pros- 
perous. There  were  many  in  overcrowded  Germany 
who  believed  that  their  lot  might  be  improved  by  an 
emigration  to  a  virgin  soil  in  a  new  country.  Thus  it 
happened     that    Christopher     Bartholomew    Mayer, 


m 


I 


I  :,,  ' 


w 


m 


I 


til 


I4 


li 


136 


ACADIE    AND    THE   ACADIANS. 


father  of  the  wife  of  the  first  German  minister  of  St. 
George's,  made  up  his  mind  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
l^ldorado  of  the  southern  American  province  of 
Georgia.  Early  in  the  year,  he  left  his  paternal  home 
in  Ulm,  and  started  on  his  journey  from  Ulm  to 
Ivbenezer,  Georgia.  Among  those  who  accompanied 
him  (it  reads  like  a  romance),  was  of  course  his 
daughter  Sybilla  Margaretha,  before  this  betrothed  to 
the  young  student,  Bernard  Michael  Houseal.  This 
gentleman  had  now  completed  his  college  course,  and 
had  received  his  degree  of  M.  A.  Vows  of  eternal 
affection  had  doubtless  been  exchanged  between  the 
two  young  people,  when  the  desire  of  the  lady's  father 
to  emigrate  to  America  became  known.  With  tears 
and  sis^hs,  the  daug-hter  had  made  it  known  to  her 
lover  that  she  must  depart  to  alien  shores,  and  that 
separation  dark,  dreary,  and  unknown,  lay  before 
them  both.  The  young  man  now  informed  the  object 
of  his  affections,  that  having  been  ordained  to  the 
sacred  ministry,  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  engage 
in  missionary  work,  and  that  nothing  would  please 
him  better  than  to  proceed  to  the  N.  A.  colonies, 
there  to  win  his  spurs  as  a  missionary,  and  to  gather 
a  rich  harvest  of  souls  into  his  Heavenly  Master's  fold. 
"  Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  early  in  the  year  1752, 
Christopher  l^artholomew  Mayer,  of  Ulm,  his  wife,  and 


III     I; 
I'l      !< 


)ld. 

52, 

md 


now    TIIF.    THING    WAS    DONE. 


137 


four  children,  stood  on  the  wharf  at  Rotterdam,  with 
their  faces  set  towards  the  new  world.  The  marriage 
of  Sybilhi  Margaretha  Mayer  with  Rev.  Bernard 
Michael  Houseal  had  just  been  celebrated,  and  the 
two  young  people,  so  lately  made  one,  were  going 
hand  in  hand  on  the  voyage  of  life.  But,  from  some 
unexplained  cause,  they  were  detained  in  Holland  for 
a  whole  year  before  setting  sail  for  the  land  of  their 
adoption.  During  this  year,  the  ecclesiastical  influ- 
ence of  young  Houseal,  brilliant,  energetic  and  learned 
as  he  was,  and  in  communication  with  the  authorities 
of  the  Consistory  of  Stuttgart,  under  whose  auspices 
he  was  going  to  labor  in  America,  caused  a  change  in 
Christopher  Mayer's  intentions.  Instead  of  proceed- 
ing to  Georgia,  as  he  at  first  intended,  he,  with  his 
family,  took  his  passage  to  Annapolis,  Maryland.  On 
their  arrival  there  in  safety,  they  were  met  by  a  cer- 
tain Daniel  Dulany,  a  large  land-owner,  who  induced 
the  thrifty  Germans  to  look  at  his  lands  in  and  about 
Fredericktown,  in  that  state.  This  conjecture  is 
strengthened  by  the  fact  that  the  ground  for  the 
church  subsequently  begun  at  that  village  by  Mr. 
Houseal,  was  given  to  him  for  that  purpose  by  Du- 
lany. No  doubt  the  fertile  soil  of  Maryland  com- 
[jared  most  favorably  with  the  swamps  of  Savannah. 
And  with  equal  probability  the  ecclesiastical  aspira- 


ii 


111  'Bl 


« ;■ 


i 


^'ii 
I  t 


ii'l 


i-  ■ 


'i^ 


''I 

'''}■ 

lit 

Id 


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H^ 


iii 


i  j< 


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ACADIK    AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


tion  of  young  Houseal  led  him  in  the  direction  of 
the  converging  valleys  of  the  Shenandoah  and  Poto- 
mac rivers,  where  a  community  from  the  Fatherland, 
speaking  a  common  language,  and  devoted  to  Luther- 
anism  as  a  common  faith,  was  already  established  to 
welcome  the  new-comers.  And  so,  in  spite  of  the 
frontier  of  their  home  being  thronged  with  savages 
and  bordering  on  the  wildest  parts  of  the  state,  the 
immigrant  family  of  Mayer  and  Houseal  planted 
themselves  on  the  ground,  rich  in  soil  and  healthy  in 
climate,  which  within  three  years  beheld  Braddock's 
defeat. 

"  Thus  bravely  did  the  first  German  minister  in 
Halifax  begin  his  career.  Here  Mr,  Houseal,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five,  began  his  work  as  a  minister  of  the 
Evangelical  I  'theran  church.  The  deed  of  the  land 
on  which  the  church  was  begun  by  Houseal,  was 
given  by  Daniel  Dulany  to  B.  M.  Houseal,  as  pastor. 
But  the  work,  zealously  begun,  was  stopped  by  the 
outbreak  of  the  hostilities  between  the  English, 
French,  and  Indians.  Mr.  Houseal's  father-in-law 
only  survived  his  emigration  from  his  native  land  six 
months,  dying  in  November  1752.  His  widow,  sons, 
a»id  daughter,  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  principally  to 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Houseal,  however,  did  not  leave 
his  flock  in  Fredericktown  until  the  year  1759,  when 


now   THE   THING   WAS    DONE. 


139 


he  took  charge  of  a  congregation  in  Reading,  Penn- 
sylvania. There  he  remained  until  1768.  From 
thence  he  went  as  clergyman  to  Easton,  Pa.,  and 
occasionally,  while  there,  officiated  in  Philadelphia. 
For  a  short  time  he  was  in  South  Carolina;  but  as  his 
brother  had  lately  emigrated  there,  it  may  have  been 
only  on  a  visit.  In  the  year  1770  he  was  transferred 
to  New  York,  then  the  leading  province  in  America. 
His  talents  and  industry  procured  him  here  the  high 
position  of  senior  minister  of  the  ancient  Lutheran 
church  in  that  city.  Here  his  sphere  of  influence 
continually  increased,  and  his  ability  and  address 
gave  him  an  eminent  position  among  the  people.  He 
appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  much  culture  and 
scholarship.  He  was  one  of  the  Governors  of  New 
York  college,  and  one  of  the  corporators  of  the  New 
York  hospital.  When  the  revolutionary  troubles 
began,  Houseal  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
king.  There  was  a  common  bond  of  lineage  between 
him  and  his  sovereign.  This,  added  to  his  naturally 
aristocratic  temperament,  made  him  an  ardent  de- 
fender of  the  rights  of  the  monarchy.  'From  the 
historical  records  of  New  York,  we  find  him  to  have 
been  loud  in  his  declarations  of  loyalty  to  England,  as 
one  of  the  addressors  of  Lord  Howe  and  Sir  Wil- 
liam Howe,  after  the  occupation  of  New  York  in  1776. 


'B 


m 


M^ 


ilH 


t 


Ml 


1 


■     -A 

ihlf 


I 


i 


I] 

'.       i' 

'  li 


Jfi'. 


140 


iiLADIE    AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


When  the  British  took  possession  of  that  capital  in 
that  year,  Houseal's  house  and  church  were  burnt,  in 
all  probability  by  the  retreating  rebels,  who  did  not 
forget  that  the  tory  preacher  had,  with  his  customary 
boldness,  denounced  the  revolutionists  in  no  measured 
terms.  During  the  war  of  independence  Mr.  Houseal 
remained  in  New  York.  At  the  peace  of  1783,  not 
being  able  in  company  with  many  others  to  reconcile 
his  conscience  to  the  American  rule,  he  came  in  that 
year,  accompained  by  many  of  his  congregation,  as 
loyalist  refugees  to  Halifax,  long  known  as  a  place  of 
safety  to  those  who  still  adhered  to  their  allegiance  to 
the  British  cro^'n.  He  was  warmly  welcomed  by  the 
British  authorities.  His  family  at  this  time  consisted 
of  three  sons  and  seven  daughters. 

"  The  coming  of  Mr.  Houseal  was  a  great  boon,  as 
may  well  be  supposed,  to  tht.  German  congregation 
of  St.  George's.  Their  church  had  been  completed  now 
for  22  years.  They  had  heartily  and  sturdily  kept  up 
their  services  in  their  mother  tongue,  depending  on 
occasional  help  from  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  or  any 
minister  whom  he  might  send.  Not  once  during  34 
years  had  their  hearts  been  gladdenec  y  the  sound 
of  a  native  minister  speaking  their  own  language.  Dr. 
Breynton  had  with  great  kindness,  which  we  are 
bound  to  say  was  duly  appreciated,  done  for  them  all 


I  li 


i!     I 


HOW   THE   THING   WAS    DONE. 


141 


that  lay  in  his  power.  Now  there  had  come  to  Hali- 
fax one  born  and  educated  in  Fatherland,  one  whi; 
was  not  only  an  accomplished  gentleman,  but  who 
could  minister  to  them  in  their  own  beloved  tongue. 
But  here  was  the  difficulty.  Their  school-master  had 
been  assisted  by  the  English  church,  as  the  foster 
mother  of  the  German  mission.  The  Germans  had, 
many  of  them,  become  warmly  attached  to  that  church, 
which  had  befriended  them  in  the  day  of  their  loneli- 
ness. They  were  a  poor  and  struggling  community 
though  they  had  a  few  men  of  means  among  them. 
The  congregation  in  short  was  no  longer  Lutheran, 
though  still  German. 

"  Mr.  Houseal  had  had  many  opportunities,  during 
his  sojourn  in  New  York,  of  intercourse  with  the 
Episcopal  clergy.  He  had  seen  their  honest  and 
manly  support  of  the  king's  cause,  and  had  sympa- 
thized with  it.  He  equally  with  them  had  suffered, 
for  his  loyalty,  the  loss  of  all  his  possessions.  He 
had  known  Charles  Inglis,  rector  of  Trinity  church, 
had  seen  and  admired  the  noble  stand  made  by  him 
against  rebellion  and  bloodshed.  He  had  stood  by 
his  side  at  the  period  when  the  troops  of  the  conti- 
nentals had  overrun  New  York,  and  came  in  to  intim- 
idate the  staunch  royalist  from  praying  for  h"s  king. 
A  common  danger  cements  an  extraordinary  friend- 


fi' 


m 


U: 


^ 


I.  it  I 


'.rj 

;    ;    ( 


M 


I  III 


il 


h  n 


-I 


•^m^im^wmutmm 


l!T 


142 


ACADIE    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


ship,  and  common  sympathies,  especially  political 
sympathies,  are  apt  to  sway  the  whole  man.  So 
when  Houseal  came  to  Halifax,  a  loyalist  refugee, 
who  had  left  all  for  his  adherence  to  the  cause  of  the 
king,  and  was  received  as  a  brother  and  friend  by  the 
loyal  population  of  this  city;  when  he  found  a  con- 
gregation to  his  hand,  German  in  nationality  yet 
English  by  adoption,  Lutheran  by  birth  yet  drawn  to 
the  Church  of  England  by  the  strong  and  irresistible 
cords  of  love;  he  soon  began  to  seriously  consider 
whether  he  could  not  conform  to  the  church  to  which 
his  German  compatriots  were  so  powerfully  attracted. 
It  was  no  unimportant  step  he  was  called  upon  to 
take.  It  involved  his  whole  ecclesiastical  status.  If 
he  conformed  to  the  Church  of  England,  he  must 
admit  the  invalidity  of  his  previous  ordination,  and 
submit  to  the  imposition  of  Episcopal  hands.  He 
must,  after  an  expatriation  from  the  land  of  his 
maturer  years,  again  cross  the  stormy  ocean,  not  in  a 
palatial  steamship,  but  in  a  small  sailing  vessel,  and 
risk  the  greater  danger  of  the  return  voyage.  On  the 
whole,  it  was  a  great  sacrifice  of  principle  and  of  per- 
sonal comfort  and  ease,  which  he  was  called  upon  to 
make. 

"From  what  is  known  of  Mr.  Houseal's  previous 
career,  of  his  erudition,  accomplishments  and  personal 


.  f 


now   THE   THING   WAS   DONE. 


143 


character,  we  may  rest  assured  that  any  step  taken  by 
him  would  only  be  dictated  by  the  purest  motives,  and 
carried  out  by  a  self-sacrificing  integrity. 

"  In  the  course  of  a  year  he  sailed  for  England;  no 
doubt  furnished  with  letters  from  the  highest  circles  in 
Halifax.  Preaching  in  a  popular  London  chapel,  he 
was  heard,  it  is  said,  by  a  member  of  the  royal  family, 
probably  Prince  Edward,  father  of  our  present  beloved 
queen.  Soon  after  this  he  applied  to  the  bishop  of 
London  for  deacon's  orders  in  the  Church  of  England. 

*'  He  then  received  the  chaplaincy  of  a  regiment 
which  was  a  favorite  of  the  Duke  of  Kent.  With  this 
regiment  he  returned  to  Halifax,  and  there  began  his 
services  to  the  Germans,  leaving  his  regimental  chap- 
laincy. He  is  described  as  a  man  of  commanding 
stature,  stately  manner  and  dignified  address,  thor- 
oughly educated  in  ancient  and  modern  languages,  as 
well  as  theology,  and  speaking  Latin  especially  with 
remarkable  fluency.  In  the  British  provinces  which 
revolted  from  England,  he  ser^/ed  for  thirty-one  years 
as  a  minister  of  a  Lutheran  church,  preaching  in  New 
York  for  fourteen  years  in  English,  German,  French 
and  Dutch.  The  sixteen  years  of  his  after  life  in  Nova 
Scotia  were  devoted  to  God  as  a  clergyman  of  the 
Church  of  England.  His  body  lies  in  a  vault  under- 
neath the  old  Dutch  church.     It  is  probable  that  Mr. 


j!. 


if 


•!i 


!   M 


:,  'h 


\i\A 


144 


ACADIE    AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


Houseal  had  been  a  student  of  medicine  in  his  early 
life,  and  that  he  took  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Medi- 
cine before  leaving  Germany.  Of  this  it  is  impossible 
to  be  quite  sure,  but  the  balance  of  evidence  points 
that  way." 

Here,  then,  we  find  the  old  St.  George's  church, 
after  having  been  built  twenty-two  years,  with  a  new 
pastor  in  it,  and  the  congregation,  after  more  than 
thirty  years  of  waiting,  gathering  around  that  pastor 
as  one  man.  What  a  noble  opportunity  here  was  to 
found  the  Church  of  the  Augsburg  Confession!  But 
Houseal  was  not  the  man  to  resist  the  blandishments 
of  those  in  power.  He  took  the  gold  of  the  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  and  acquiesced  in 
the  scheme  whereby  the  Lutherans  were  robbed  of 
their  property.  He  sacrificed  his  principles,  as  his 
reverend  apologist  and  beneficiary  of  the  act  informs 
us.  How  much  or  how  little  he  is  to  be  censured, 
only  God  knows.  He  shall  be  the  Judge.  Houseal 
may  have  been  a  good  man,  although  he  evidently 
had  no  faculty  for  forecasting  the  probable  effects  of 
the  causes  which,  at  this  juncture,  he  was  the  chief 
instrument  in  the  hands  of  the  Church  of  England 
people  in  helping  to  set  in  motion. 

Many  things  must  be  considered  in  making  up  our 
estimate  of  the  man  and  his  work.     The  civil  power 


now   THE   THING   WAS    DONE. 


H5 


was  entirely  vested  in  the  hands  of  the  Church  of 
England  people.  A  man  could  not  be  so  much  as  an 
overseer  of  roads,  or  constable,  or  tax-gatherer,  unless 
a  member  of  the  Established  Church.  This  member- 
ship was  the  sine  qua  non  to  social,  as  well  as  political 
preferment.  And  the  desperate  attempt  was  made  on 
the  part  of  those  in  power  to  so  bind  and  coerce 
men's  consciences,  by  making  it  the  first  essential  to 
ecclesiastical  existence.  And  in  this  sad  case  the  at- 
tempt succeeded.     Houseal  fell  before  it. 

Other  religions  than  that  of  the  Church  of  England 
were  tolerated  solely  by  reason  of  necessity.  And  no 
means  were  considered  too  despicable,  no  flattery  too 
contemptible,  to  lure  or  to  drive  men  from  their  own 
faith  into  conformity.  The  Provincial  Council,  con- 
sisting of  twelve  men,  clothed  with  legislative  and 
executive  power,  holding  ofiice  for  life,  in  no  way  ac- 
countable to  the  will  of  the  people,  with  the  Episcopal 
Bishop  and  Chief  Justice  as  members,  sitting  with 
closed  doors,  could,  and  doubtless  would,  and  prob- 
ably did,  legislate  with  the  approval  of  the  Governor 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  a  legal 
sanction  to  the  transfer  of  the  property  of  the  Luth- 
e  .in  congregation,  growing  more  valuable  and  hence 
mo^e  desirable  year  by  year,  to  the  friendly  congrega- 
tion o*'  St.  Paul's.     Such  legal,  judicial,  ecclesiastical, 

lO 


14 


!i^ 


1 


I     .i 


ft 


i! 


!   i 


146 


ACADIE  AND  THE   ACAniANS. 


and  doubtless  also  social  and  political  pressure  was 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  Germans  and  their  pastor, 
that  it  remained  but  a  matter  of  time  as  to  when  the 
transfer  should  be  effected.  Nevertheless,  the  form  of 
transfer  was  not  yet  formally  made  public.  The  Ger- 
man congregation,  lulled  into  fancied  security,  occu- 
pied itself  with  trifles  and  slumbered  in  peace. 

•*  Whitsuntide,  Juvie  1st,  1782,"  the  old  register 
goes  on,  "  Mr.  Otto  William  Schwartz  presented  the 
church  a  red  altar  and  pulpit  covering,  on  which  was 
his  name  in  golden  letters." 

"January  ist,  1784.  Church  meeting  was  held,  and 
after  due  consideration  the  lot  belonG^insf  to  Mr.  Ham 
was  separated  from  the  estate,  because  Mr.  Casper 
Ham  does  not  keep  house  and  can  make  no  use  of  the 
same,  therefore  all  the  church-wardens  have  con- 
cluded to  take  the  same  and  let  it  as  well  as  they  can." 

"January  ist,  1785.  Two  church- wardens  resigned 
and  four  have  been  chosen  in  their  places,  so  that  in 
the  future  the  number  of  church- wardens  will  be  si^ 
and  that  of  the  elders  three.  Anthony  Hanery, 
Charles  Right,  Daniel  Hail,  Philip  Palmer. 

"October  9th,  1785.  To-day  a  church  meeting  was 
held,  and  it  was  agreed  upon  that  because  of  the  death 
of  Otto  William  Schwartz  another  elder  should  be 
chosen.     Mr.  Peter  Schmidt." 


HOW  THE  THING  WAS  DONE. 


147 


From  this  date  onward  to  January  ist,  1807,  the  h'st 
of  incoming  officers  is  kept  with  uneventful  smooth- 
ness, the  names  of  another  Schwart::,  of  a  doctor  or 
two.  and  of  many  new  ones  appearing,  until  at  that 
date  there  comes  a  pause — 

"  An  awful  pause,  prophetic  of  the  end." 


!'H 


( H 


m 


'i1 


iv 


ti 


if 
Ml 


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m 


'I       i 


In  I 


I  ■  I 


^i\ 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
THE  COMMUNION  SERVICE  AND  THE  BURYING  GROUND. 

HTHE  unwritten  history  is  no  doubt  quite  as  interest- 
^  ing  as  that  which  has  been  presented.  There  may- 
be other  records  in  existence  which  would  throw  new 
lii^jht  upon  the  darkness;  there  may  be  persons  inter- 
ested who  have  access  to  those  records,  but  dou  tless 
they  will  see  to  it  that  what  is  not  creditable  to  their 
antecedents  in  them  shall  be  suppressed.  The  ques- 
tion of  the  ownership  of  St.  George's  church  is  by  no 
means  a  settled  question.  No  question  is  settled  until 
rightly  settled.  And  this,  as  it  stards,  is  not  right. 
Man  may  propose  to  have  it  settled  so,  but  God  dis- 
poses of  events,  and  this  question,  if  not  arranged 
differently  on  earth,  shall  be  taken  on  appeal  to  the 
Court  of  Heaven.  There  is  a  day  of  reckoning  to 
come.  For  the  alienation  of  this  congregation  from 
the  pure  truth  of  the  Word  of  God  as  those  Lutheran 
people  had  been  taught  it,  as  they  held  and  believed 
it;  for  the  act  of  robbing  the  Lutheran  church  of  an 
unknown  amount  of  property  ;  for  appropriating,  under 
the  pretext  of  a  legal  right,  lands,  churches,  houses, 

communion   service  and   instruments  of  music,  there 

(148) 


COMMUNION    SERVICE   AND   BURYING    GROUND.       I49 

may  be,  for  aught  we  know,  a  day  of  retribution  as 
well  as  reckoning. 

At  all  events,  it  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  matter  of 
wonder  how  this  most  questionable  transaction  is  re- 
garded by  the  honest  and  upright  members  of  the 
Church  of  England.  What  sort  of  psychological 
phenomena  nmst  be  presented  by  the  pure  minds  of 
the  worthy  people  of  that  denomination  when  they 
endeavor  to  honestly  contemplate  these  hard  facts, 
and  make  them  conform  with  the  simple  principles  of 
equity  and  justice!  What,  for  example,  can  be  the 
feelings  which  move  in  the  mind  of  a  devout  com- 
municant in  St.  George's  church  while  receiving  the 
consecrated  elements  of  the  Holy  Communion  from 
those  stolen  vessels  !  It  would  certainly  be  unfair  to 
institute  any  comparison  between  their  thoughts  and 
those  of  Belshazzar  reveling  amid  the  sacred  vessels 
stolen  from  the  temple ;  for  his  father  stole  those  ves- 
sels, while  their  fathers  tried  to  keep  these  from  being 
stolen.  But  no  person  of  honor  will  question  that  it 
would  be  more  in  accord  with  the  golden  rule  of  our 
Lord  Jesus,  "  Do  unto  others  as  you  would  have 
them  do  to  you  ;"  more  conducive  to  clean  hands  and 
a  pure  heart;  more  in  harmony  with  the  love  of  God 
and  Christian  virtue,  if  the  Church  of  England,  as  a 
matter  of  ordinary  morality,  were  to  relinquish  its  use 


i 


'  if' 
hi 

1':- 


\\ 


irt 


^■O 


♦  u 


-  >j 


[^ 


5       t 


150 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


and  fraudulent  claims  of  the  Lutheran  church  of  St. 
George  forever. 

But  that  any  intention  of  so  doing  exists  does  not 
appear.  As  an  example  of  the  feeling,  it  may  be 
noted  that  of  those  now  in  possession  one  carried 
the  communion  vessels  before  the  Nova  Scotia  His- 
torical Society,  and  there  put  them  upon  exhibi- 
tion. The  taste  which  permitted  such  a  display  is  on 
a  level  with  the  defense  made  and  the  tone  and  spirit 
i.i  which  it  was  given,  as  the  unprejudiced  reader  may 
judge  for  himself.  Appended  is  the  defense  in  ques- 
tion, made  by  the  reverend  exhibitor,  Mr.  Partridge : 

"The  plate  was  sent  for  from  England.  It  is  curi- 
ous that  upon  it  is  an  inscription  in  English,  and  that 
the  Royal  Arms  should  be  found  engraven  upon  the 
front  of  it.  This  may  have  been  either  because  the 
order  was  forwarded  through  the  government,  of 
which  Mr.  Richard  Jacob  may  have  been  an  official,  or 
because  the  silversmiths  in  England,  being  ignorant  of 
anything  beyond  an  Established  Church  in  England, 
thought  that  the  Royal  Arms,  surmounting  so  many 
pieces  of  communion  plate  of  a  previous  period,  were 
the  only  suitable  emblem  for  engraving  upon  these. 
This  plate,  duly  arriving  from  the  old  country,  was 
used  for  the  first  time  by  Rev.  Dr.  Breynton  on  Octo- 
ber   loth,    1779.     It  is  described  as  consisting  of  a 


*  :;i 


COMMUNION    SERVICE   AND    BURYING    GROUND.       I5I 

'silver  can,  a  silver  cup,  one  large  and  one  small 
plate' — in  all  four  pieces.  The  cost  was  £$y  2s.  id. 
The  plate,  which  I  here  exhibit  to  you,  was  massive 
and  suitable,  and  has  been  used  continuously  from 
that  time  to  this.  It  was  further  ordered  that  the 
said  *  silver  plate  should  always  be  kept  in  one  of  the 
wardens'  houses.'  The  amount  of  the  cost  of  the 
plate  was  paid  to  Mr.  Jacob  from  the  funds  on  Jan- 
uary 1st,  1780 — and  an  entry  to  that  effect  was  duly 
made  in  the  account-book  of  the  parish.  A  vio- 
lent and  absurd  letter  appears  among  those  before 
mentioned  as  having  been  written  by  Rev.  D.  Luther 
Roth,  a  Lutheran  minister,  formerly  of  Lunenburg 
and  at  present  (1887)  residing  in  the  United  States. 
He  draws  a  picture  highly  creditable  to  his  imagina- 
tion, however,  but  to  nothing  else,  representing  the 
perjured  and  abandoned  Christians  of  St.  George's 
receiving  the  sacrament  from  plate  stolen  from  the 
Germans,  and  handed  down  from  generation  to  gener- 
ation of  sacrilegious  thieves.  This  plate  was  pur- 
chased by  the  German  congregation  for  use  in  the 
communion  service  of  the  Church  of  England.  It 
was  never  used  for  any  other  service.  It  was  never 
handled  by  any  one  save  an  ordained  priest  of  the 
Church  of  England.  At  the  time  when  the  old 
Church  of  St.  George  became  too  small  for  the  in- 


^m 


■ . 


''^^ 


i  < 


■I 


:h. 


i   . 


:l 


152 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


It 


creasing  population,  and  the  new  St.  George's  was 
erected,  it  passed  from  the  dying  hands  of  the  first 
German  ministers,  (of  whom  more  anon,)  to  the  first 
regularly  appointed  English  minister,  to  be  used  by 
him,  and  no  one  else. 

"The  congregation  was  by  this  time  (1800)  more 
than  half  English;  and  those  who  still  retained  their 
German  predilections  were  inclined  to  the  English 
Church,  which  alone  had  cared  for  their  souls  during 
a  period  of  half  a  century;  and  when  at  last  the  con- 
gregation of  George's,  Germans  and  all,  became  con- 
formed to  the  English  Church  and  fully  constituted  of 
their  own  free  will  and  accord  after  its  model,  this 
plate  was  handed  over  to  the  Rev.  Robert  Fitzgerald 
Uniacke  (honored  name  in  this  city),  and  has  passed 
from  him  to  his  successors.  The  uncalled-for  and 
cruel  attempt  of  this  truly  Christian  minister,  Mr.  D. 
L.  Roth,  to  stir  up  strife  and  create  bitter  feeling 
about  the  communion  plate  used  in  the  holy  mysteries 
of  the  Prince  of  Peace  for  one  hundred  and  eight 
years,  can  only  recoil  on  its  pugnacious,  untruthful 
author.  The  plate  is  consecrated  by  the  hallowed 
use  of  more  than  a  century,  and  one  cannot  envy  the 
pious  pretensions  of  one  who  would  create  ill-feeling 
and  unchristian  controversy  over  the  sacred  remains 
of  the  sainted  dead.     It  cannot  be  too  strongly  em- 


Il 


COMMUNION    SKKVICE    AND    BURYING    GROUND. 


153 


phasi'zed  that,  from  the  earliest  coming  of  the  Germans 
to  the  present,  no  orda'ned  minister  has  ever  officiated 
in  the  German  church,  or  its  offshoot  the  present  St. 
George's,  save  a  true  and  regular  priest  of  the  Church 
of  England.  It  is  correct,  of  course,  to  admit  that  of 
late  years  services  have  been  held  by  a  German  Luth- 
eran minister.  Rev.  Theodore  Cossman,  D.  D.,  in  the 
Dutch  church,  to  German  Lutherans  in  Halifax.  But 
such  services  have  been  allowed  solely  by  the  Chris- 
tian courtesy  of  the  rectors  of  St.  George's,  in  a  build- 
ing once  occupied  by  German  Lutherans,  but  for 
three-quarters  of  a  century  past  the  property  of  the 
Church  of  England.  The  communion  plate  here  ex- 
hibited has  never  been  used  by  other  than  Church  of 
England  priests,  not  even  in  the  occasional  services  of 
the  Dutch  church  by  Lutheran  ministers." 

As  will  be  observed,  the  whole  question  at  issue  as 
to  the  right  of  ownership  is  here  admitted.  The  fact 
so  emphatically  reiterated  and  insisted  upon,  that  "no 
one  but  a  true  and  regular  priest  of  the  Church  of 
l^ngland"  has  ever  officiated  in  the  church  or  handled 
the  vessels,  is  just  where  the  wrong  lies,  for  those 
priests  have  no  right  before  God  and  never  had  a 
right  to  do  so.  That  plate  was  purchased  in  1779  for 
the  use  of  the  Lutherans:  yet  here  it  is  gravely  as- 
serted that  it  was  "  for  use  in  the  communion  service  of 


15 


1 

^  i' 

1 

.M 

1 

\i' 

H 

j,:^ 

H 

( 

1 

1 

ilf'l 


ih'^' 


154 


ACADIE    AND    THE   ACADIANS. 


n 


1: 


i  4 


f  i 


.   i 


the  Church  of  England."  The  records  of  St.  George's 
disprove  the  claim.  For  if  that  claim  be  worth  any- 
thing, it  must  cover  the  whole  period;  but  as  no  such 
attempt  has  been  made,  the  whole  absurd,  untruthful, 
and  insolent  fabric  falls.  The  highest  claim  made  is 
for  "three-quarters  of  a  century  past,"  but  whose 
building  and  communion  plate  were  these  before  ? 
That  church  was  built  and  consecrated  as  a  Lutheran 
church.  What  right  have  priests  of  the  Church  of 
England  to  hold  it  in  possession?  That  the  Germans 
called  in  a  priest  of  that  denomination  to  officiate  for 
them  is  doubtful.  That  those  priests  took  advantage 
of  their  shepherdless  condition  to  have  their  services 
accepted  is  probable  That  the  Lutherans  ever  per- 
mitted them  to  officiate  was  less  their  fault  than  their 
misfortune.  And  the  consequences  as  they  now 
appear  should  serve  as  a  warning  against  the  officious 
intermeddling  of  all  sectarians,  among  the  Lutheran 
people  who  know  them,  for  all  time  to  come. 

The  old  church,  the  first  one  built  by  the  Germans, 
still  stands.  It  was  on  a  lovely  Sunday  morning  in 
the  month  of  June  when  I  visited  it.  On  that  Sunday 
morning  I  walked  out  Brunswick  street  in  search  of 
it.  The  ubiquitous  small  boy  was  there,  playing 
marbles  on  the  sidewalk.     Him  T  accosted: 

"  My  boy,  is  there  an  old  church  out  here  some- 
where?" 


COMMUNION   SERVICE   AND   BURYING   GROUND.      1 55 

"No." 

"Are  you  sure?" 

"Do  you  mean  the  Round  church?" 

"No,  a  little  old  church." 

"Oh,  you  mean  the  Chicken-cock  church,  don't 
you?" 

"  Probably  that  is  it.     Can  you  tell  where  it  is  ?  " 

"  Why,  right  down  there,"  and  he  pointed  with  his 
finger  to  the  little  steeple  rising  in  the  distance,  bear- 
ing on  its  apex  the  effigy  of  the  historic  bird  which 
startled  Peter,  and  gave  the  boy  sufficient  reason  for 
the  irreverent  name  which  he  had  applied  in  pointing 
it  out.  I  approached  the  building  and  standing  be- 
neath its  shadow,  uncovered.  Nothing  in  its  appear- 
ance was  suggestive,  by  even  the  remotest  hint  of 
architectural  beauty,  magnificence  of  design,  or 
splendor  of  detail.  While  this  was  all,  it  was  not 
worth  attempting  to  "  convey."  Yet  here  the  fathers 
met  and  worshiped,  and  reverence  for  their  memory 
caused  me  to  feel  as  though  I  stood  on  consecrated 
ground,  and  to  stand  uncovered  regardless  of  the  in- 
quiring looks  of  the  passers  by.  The  building  is  a 
small  frame  structure  about  twenty  feet  wide  by  thirty 
in  length.  It  stood  on  the  north-east  corner  of  the 
intersection  of  Brunswick  and  Gerrish  streets.  Over 
the  entrance  to  the  little  sanctuary  is  the  inscription 


:i 

' 

'  Kil] 

t 

'Km 

I 

(''♦Sn 

!    !"!l 

^ 

w 

1. 

I 


m 


!!^ 


,M- 


■I  I' 


I '  t  i 


n 


,.. 


! 


,1 


.56 


ACADTF.   ANh   THK   ACAt)lANS. 


*' ST  georgk's  church,  1755." 

The  lot  on  which  it  stands  is  enclosed  by  a  fence  of 
rough  flagstone,  badly  broken  down  and  exceedingly 
ragged  in  appearance.  It  has  been  used  as  a  place  of 
burial  in  times  past,  but  shows  no  evidence  of  recent 
interments.  Stepping  over  the  broken  wall,  the  visi- 
tor will  at  once  observe  that  it  is  utilized  for  other 
purposes  now.  It  has  the  appearance  of  being  the 
general  receptacle  for  the  old  tin  cans,  ragged  baskets, 
brushwood,  collapsed  stove-pipes,  broken  bottles, 
wrecked  hoop-skirts,  and  common  rubbish  of  the 
whole  neighborhood. 

Of  the  several  hundred  graves  in  it,  one-fourth,  per- 
haps, are  marked  by  sandstone  tablets ;  of  these  stones 
more  than  nine-tenths  are  broken ;  not  half  a  dozen 
among  the  whole  number  stand  upright.  Such  a 
dilapidated  cemetery  cannot  be  found,  perhaps,  in  any 
other  city  in  Christendom.  The  like  of  it  I  never 
looked  upon  before,  and  I  hope  I  never  shall  see  again. 
Yet  how  we  Lutherans  would  prize  that  old  church 
and  cemetery  if  we  might  call  it  ours!  Entering  the 
Gottes  Acker  as  I  did,  with  the  heart  full  of  solemn 
reverence,  who  can  describe  the  revulsion  of  feeling 
which  swept  over  me  as  I  stood  among  the  graves  in 
that  hallowed  spot,  defiled  by  the  accumulated  filth  of 
generations,  and  so  shamefully  neglected  bytho.se  who 


£1 


i      !     ! 


■?:i^l 


COMMUNION   SERVICE   AND   BURYING   GROUND.       I57 

claim  to  own  it?  The  whole  history  of  thcfr  connec- 
tion with  it,  from  the  manner  in  which  they  got  it  to 
the  manner  in  which  they  keep  it,  is  alike  shameful, 
and  a  standing  disgrace  to  the  would-be  high-toned 
Episcopalians  who  now  claim  it.  In  fact,  the  condition 
of  that  old  cemetery,  me  judice,  is  a  disgrace  to  the 
city. 

From  there,  with  a  sad  heart,  I  went  to  the  new  St. 
George's  church,  called  from  its  '^ircular  form  the 
"  Round  church,"  built  by  the  Lutherans,  as  the  old 
one  had  been,  and  from  them  "  conveyed "  (it  is 
Shakespeare  who  says,  "Men  stealing  call  'convey'  ") 
to  the  Episcopalians  of  the  Church  of  England,  and 
there,  fortunately,  found  the  people  assembling  fot 
worship,  with  whom  I  entered.  In  sincerity  I  en- 
deavored to  worship  God  there,  but  it  was  out  of  the 
question.  Staring  me  in  the  face,  in  the  conspicuous 
position  to  which  I  had  been  assigned,  was  the  mural 
tablet  sacred  to  the  memory  of  that  steadfast  dea- 
con, that  Lutheran  of  the  Lutherans,  Otto  William 
Schwartz;  meek  faces  of  women  and  kind  eyes  of  men 
of  evident  German  origin  and  antecedents  around  me, 
in  unconscious  acquiescence  with  the  dishonor  of  the 
name  and  faith  of  their  ancestors;  a  humdrum  preacher 
droning  in  the  pulpit;  and  vivid  in  my  mind's  eye  the 
picture  of  that  desecrated  burial  ground,  I  was  in  no 
fit  mood  for  worship. 


If 


;  Li-  * 


Mil) 


'^1 


1  f 


:  : 


't   • 


:!itl!r 


158 


ACADIK   AND   THE  ACADIAKS. 


And  now,  upon  the  publication  of  these  things,  the 
self-styled  "  Rector  of  St.  George's  church "  rushes 
into  print  with  this  explanation,  the  further  circulation 
of  which  he  now  has,  like  the  churches  he  claims,  from 
Lutherans,  gratis.  Please  God,  the  feathers  shall  fly 
from  this  bird,  if  he  tear  them  out  himself!  Hearken 
unto  him. 

"  THE    LUTHERANS    OF    HALIFAX. 
"  To  the  Editor  of  the  Herald : 

"  Sir. — I  have  been  trying  to  imagine  what  can  be 
the  purpose  of  a  gentleman,  living  in  the  United 
States,  and  signing  himself  Luther  D.  Roth,  and  who 
.says  he  speaks  as  a  Lutheran,  when  he  writes  to  your 
valuable  journal  a  series  of  letters  on  the  early  history 
of  the  Germans  in  Halifax.  Can  he  really  be  so  ig- 
norant of  human  nature  as  to  suppose  that  any  one 
would  seriously  reply  to  what  can  only  be  described 
as  a  mass  of  unchristian,  uncharitable  insinuations 
against  the  memory  and  action  of  a  number  of  gentle- 
men of  highest  integrity  during  their  useful  and  hon- 
ored lives,  and  against  whom  not  the  shadow  of  sus- 
picion has  ever  been  suggested  by  any  one  but  Luther 
D.  Roth?  It  is  now  more  than  one  hundred  years 
since  the  Rev.  Bernard  Michael  Houseal,  a  gentleman 
of  good  family,  and  of  whose  honor  and  unblemished 
reputation  no  one  except  Luther  D.  Roth  has  hitherto 


COMMUNION    SKRVICE    AND    RL'RYINn    fiROUND. 


159 


entertained  the  slightest  doubt,  whose  dust  lies  now  in 
the  old  German  burying- ground,  came  to  Halifax,  and 
having  received  ordination  at  the  hands  of  the  then 
Bishop  of  London,  entered  upon  his  duties  as  a 
clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England  to  the  Germans 
in  Halifax.  All  that  now  remains  to  Luther  D.  Roth 
equally  with  the  present  representatives  of  the  Ger- 
man church  of  St.  George,  is  the  plain  fact  that  for 
reasons  best  known  to  themselves,  and  inscribed  at 
length  upon  the  later  records  of  St.  George's  church, 
the  Germans  joined,  of  their  own  free  will  and  accord, 
the  Church  of  England.  Why  this  should  arovjse  the 
violent  and  unreasoning  rage  of  Luther  D.  Roth,  at 
so  long  an  interval  of  time,  and  for  what  reason  this 
very  Christian  and  Lutheran  minister  should,  under 
shelter  of  a  foreign  country,  take  pleasure  in  heaping 
obloquy  upon  the  honored  dead,  is  best  known  to  his 
virtuous  self  Should  he,  at  any  time,  change  his 
most  ungentlemanly  and  uncalled-for  attack  upon  St. 
George's  church — repudiated,  I  am  thankful  to  say,  by 
the  most  prominent  Germau  Lutherans  at  present  liv- 
ing in  Halifax — into  a  reasonable  inquiry  into  the  facts 
of  history,  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  supply  him  with 
the  information  of  which  he  now  confesses  himself 
ignorant.  Until  then,  we  can  only  preserve  an  indig- 
nant silence.     The  whole  spirit  and  tone  of  his  com- 


:  !-..i 


II 


I  1 1 


.»  *! 


I    I. 


'11 


»-•— -■  \\«,Si] 


1 

,  ;      1 

1.1 

!      1 

•  i    <    >   I    ' 


i6o 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS, 


munications  to  your  journal  are  quite  unworthy  of 
any  other  treatment.  Luther  D.  Roth  asserts  that  he 
speaks  for  the  Lutherans.  If  this  he  so,  the  Luth- 
erans are  not  to  be  congratulated  on  their  spokesman. 

"Francis  Partridge, 
"  Rcctov  of  St.  George  s  Church!' 

Who  would  have  believed,  upon  any  less  tru.st- 
worthy  authority  than  this,  that  the  dust  of  that  so 
highly  honored  man  of  God,  i"he  Rev.  Bernard  Michael 
Houseal,  rests  in  that  old  German  burying  ground  ? 
And  those  other  gentlemen  of  unimpeached  integrity, 
of  useful,  honored  lives — lies  their  dust,  too,  in  that  so 
horribly  desecrated  spot?  High  honor  this,  indeed ! 
And  must  the  pen  of  the  wayfarer  be  stayed  because 
the  lapse  of  time  has  been  so  great !  We  trow  not. 
There  are  some  deeds  of  monumental  wickedness 
which  time  never  can  make  right.  There  are  some 
.scenes  once  gazed  upon  which  no  distance  can  efface. 
The  shelter  of  no  foreic^n  land  is  needed  for  their  de- 
nunciation,  nor  were  it  the  Antipodes,  could  it  be  far 
enough  away  to  cover  the  memory  of  that  masterly 
deed  of  "  conveyancing,"  nor  yet  blot  out  the  sight  of 
that  dishonored  place  of  dead  men's  last  repose. 

To  the  reverend  gentleman  who  protests  with  such 
vehemence  against  allowing  the  light  to  shine  upon 
the  deeds  of  the  past  and  the  derelictions  of  the  pre.s- 


COMMUNION    SERVICE    AND    IJUKVING    GROUND.       l6l 


ent,  I  have  to  say,  I  seek  no  controversy.  The  "  in- 
dignant silence"  into  which  he  lapses  suits  well  his 
purpose,  and  he  is  welcome  to  maintain  it.  Far  be  it 
frckm  me  to  compel  him  to  speak.  I  have  made  no 
wanton  attack  upon  St.  George's  Church  in  particular, 
nor  upon  the  Church  of  England  in  general.  I  now 
publicly  profess  for  that  body  what  I  have  ever  pri- 
vately entertained,  that  is,  the  highest  esteem.  She 
has  much  that  I  reverence  and  honor.  Among  her 
ministers  and  people  are  many  whom  I  reckon  as  my 
very  dear  friends.  And  yet,  to  quote  the  language  of 
one  of  the  most  eminent  divines  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  of  the  United  States:  "It  (the  Episcopal 
Church)  is  not  without  its  spots  and  besetting  sins. 
We  have  often  been  struck  with  its  facile  and  impudent 
proselytism,  especially  of  Lutherans.  Having  obtained 
nearly  everything  of  value  in  its  Articles  and  Book 
of  Common  Prayer  from  Lutheran  hands,  it  has  ever 
shown  a  particular  penchant  for  getting  our  people  also. 
Nor  are  the  means  employed  always  in  harmony  with 
the  civility,  high  tone  and  apostolic  purity  to  which  its 
people  are  apt  to  make  rather  undue  pretensions.  The 
adroit  injustice  by  which  the  old  Swedish  Lutheran 
churches  on  the  Delaware  and  Schuylkill  were  wrested 
to  the  Episcopalians  and  are  held  by  them,  is  a  matter 

of  history  which  will  not  admit  of  justification." 
II 


♦-{ 


r 


1  li 


.\\' 


^  II 


' 


fill!? 


i'  I 


ii 


i  ' 


162 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


The  history  of  the  d'  .poihnent  of  St.  George's,  Hali- 
fax, stands  in  the  same  category  as  "adroit  injustice." 
And  the  time  has  gone  by  for  Lutherans  to  stand  by 
with  closed  lips  or  to  open  them  to  condone  these 
offences.  We  denounce  the  whole  proceeding  as  the 
act  of  a  villain,  perpetrated  under  the  gown  of  a  priest. 
It  is  prelatical  piracy,  and  those  who  are  guilty  of  it 
and  live  by  it  should  haul  down  the  banner  of  the 
Cross,  and  hoist  the  black  flag  of  the  pirate.  And  so 
long  as  they  refuse  to  make  every  restitution  in  their 
power,  let  them  bear  before  the  world  the  odium  of 
their  deeds.  In  the  case  under  consideration  they 
have  to  give  answer  to  the  charge  ot  unlawfu'lly  se- 
questering two  Lutheran  churches  with  all  their  pro- 
perty to  their  own  uses.  And  the  world  shall  know 
it,  though  it  be  a  thousand  years  after  the  perpe- 
tration of  the  deed ;  for  it  is  an  act  which  can  never  be 
justified  as  an  act  of  righteousness,  either  in  time  or  in 
eternity. 

When  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  E.  Cossmann  went  to 
hold  Divine  service  in  Halifax — as  he  has  done  at  in- 
tervals for  more  than  fifty  years — he  was  obliged  to 
go  first  to  those  having  control  of  the  old  German 
Lutheran  church  and  ask  their  permission  before  using 
it.  It  is  due  to  them  to  state  that  (to  my  knowledge) 
the  request  was  never  refused.     But  let  the  humiliation 


COMMUNION    SERVICE   AND    BURYING   GROUND.       I63 

of  such  a  proceeding  be  considered.  Who  but  one 
filled  with  the  grace  of  God,  could  have  the  meekness 
and  lowliness  to  do  it!  The  bitter  irony  of  fate  is  in 
it.  And  when  I  learned  that  fact,  I  determined  to  sift 
the  history  to  its  depths,  God  helping  me,  if  it  lay  in 
my  power  to  do  so.  I  accordingly  addressed  a  re- 
spectful request  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Uniacke,  then  rector 
of  St.  George's,  for  light  upon  the  subject.  He  referred 
me  to  another  gentleman.  Him  I  likewise  respectfully 
addressed,  but  my  communication  was  treated  with 
contemptuous  silence.  But  with  God's  help  I  found 
the  light  I  needed  in  the  parish  register  itself.  And 
now,  if  the  reverend  rector  in  charge  will  come  out  of 
the  "  indignant  silence"  into  which  he  lapsed,  and  will 
give  me  to  see  that, it  can  be  right,  in  the  sight  of  God 
and  man,  to  require  of  an  honored  Lutheran  minister 
that  he  should  be  obliged  to  ask  permission  of  Church 
of  England  authorities  to  hold  Divine  service  in  a 
Lutheran  church,  I  shall  remain  silent  and  satisfied. 
1  have  spoken. 


'•li 

.  ■             1 

/' 

-1 


Ml 


Wi 


'I   i 


'.'I     I 


f1 

I 

'I! 


* 


I 


.    I 


i, 

Nil 


u 


» 

f 

r 

i  i 

! 

i 

'1 

i 

1       'i 

1     '.  ■ 

' 

T 

^1 


'I 


ii 


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\^ 


,    I 

i    ( 


III 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  LUNENBURG. 

THERE  are  few  persons  who  have  not  a  weakness. 
Some,  to  be  sure,  have  many;  but  while  they 
lament  them  in  general  they  cherish  that  special  one 
in  particular.  To  such  a  particular  weakness  I  plead 
"  guilty  in  the  first  degree."  And  as  open  confession 
is  good  for  the  soul,  I  may  as  well  confess  here  and 
now  that  my  weakness  is  for  old  books.  An  anti- 
quated volume  covered  with  the  regulation  hog-skin, 
black  with  the  gathered  stains  of  time,  clasped  with 
ponderous  clasps  of  brass,  stamped  with  half-oblit- 
erated designs  which  once  shone  resplendent  upon  its 
broad  back,  discolored  as  to  its  pages,  worm-eaten, 
printed  in  black  letter,  and  bearing  upon  its  title-page 
the  honorable  imprint  of  some  long-forgotten  pub- 
lisher, regardless  of  its  subject  matter,  I  ever  hail  as  a 
treasure.  When  in  the  course  of  human  events  one 
becomes  possessed  of  such  a  treasure,  a  venerable 
relic,  not  printed  but  written,  written  by  the  living 
hand  of  a  fellow-man,  a  strong  hand  skilled  to  toil,  as 
well  as  to  the  use  of  the  pen,  a  hand  long  moldered 
away,  the  value   of  the  volume   is  enhanced.      But 

(164) 


THE   FOUNDING   OF   LUNENBURG. 


165 


when  the  subject  matter  of  the  book  is  that  in  which 
one  is  deeply  interested ;  when  it  comes  from  the  hand 
of  one  whose  position  was  most  advantageous  for  know- 
ing what  one  wants  to  know ;  and  when  the  garnered 
knowledge  in  no  other  book  on  earth  is  to  be  found, 
then  is  its  value  more  than  treasure-trove.  Tischen- 
dorf  discovering  the  MSS.  of  the  New  Testament 
among  the  recluses  of  Mt.  Sinai,  Luther  finding  the 
Bible  in  the  monasteiy  of  Eriurt,  were  not  filled  with 
greater  or  more  genuine  joy  than  I  in  the  acquisition 
of  one  such  ancient  volume. 

Among  the  people  with  a  history  of  more  than  a 
century  behind  them,  but  without  any  authentic  re- 
cord of  the  past  save  the  dull  chronicles  of  the  parish 
register,  while  the  air  is  filled  with  the  whispers  of 
traditions  that  are  growing  more  dim  as  the  rumor  of 
them  becomes  less  audible,  in  the  very  nature  of  things 
it  would  appear  that  there  must  be  such  a  hog-skin- 
covered  volume  somewhere.  I  felt  the  inevitable 
necessity  for  the  existence  of  such  a  volume,  felt  it  in 
my  bones,  and  proved  my  faith  by  my  endeavor  to 
find  it.  I  made  inquiry  wherever  I  went.  I  ques- 
tioned in  particular  the  old  people,  and  ran  up  any 
clue,  however  slight,  with  such  persistency  that  10 
more  than  one  grandfather,  dozing  in  the  chimney-cor- 
ner,   I  became  an   object   of  suspicion  and  distrust. 


'.P 


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AC/. DIE   AND    THE   ACADIANS. 


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A  seeker  after  the  fabulous  treasurer  of  Captain  Kidd 
could  not  have  been  more  pertinacious.  I  hunted 
through  old  chests,  I  lovind  strange  things,  old 
deeds,  letters,  family  records,  emigrant  passes  and  cer- 
tificates, in  out-of-the-way  places,  and  finally  that 
queer  old  locked,  bolted,  iron-bound  money-chest,  for 
which  there  was  no  key,  stored  away  in  a  closet  in  the 
tower  of  the  church  in  Lunenburg.  The  chest  con- 
tained something,  but  before  it  was  opened  only  Infin- 
iiite  Wisdom  could  tell  what  that  something  was.  I 
said  in  my  heart  it  was  the  long-sought  volume,  pro- 
cured a  file,  laboriously  filed  the  lock  off  and  opened 
the  chest.  I  confess  to  a  sense  of  guilt  in  doing 
this.  It  was  accomplished  surreptitiously.  And 
when  it  was  done  I  found — tell  it  not  in  Gath,  and 
publish  it  not  in  the  streets  of  Askelon — sundry  copies 
of  a  book  of  "church  forms,"  published  by  a  long  de- 
parted predecessor:  "only  this  and  nothing  more." 
And  I  came  down  from  that  high  tower  humbled  and 
ashamed.  But  that  very  hour  a  man  was  waiting  in 
my  house,  with  that  very  hog-skin-covered  book,  to 
place  it  in  my  hands,  and  that  book  contained  the 
substantial  facts  concerning  the  history  of  the  people 
and  settlement,  whose  history  I  so  much  desired  to 
know. 

In  what  is  here  to  be  written,  particular  attention 


THE   FOUNDING   OF   LUNENBURG.  167 

shall  be  given  to  the  founding  and  development  of  the 
Lutheran  church  in  the  town  and  county  of  Lunen- 
burg. IVIv  residence  there  for  almost  a  decade,  and 
the  familiar  intercourse  enjoyed  with  the  present  ven- 
erable pastor,  Charles  E.  Cossmann,  D.  D.,  as  well  as 
with  many  aged  inhabitants  of  the  place,  together  with 
continual  and  painstaking  reference  to  all  records 
available,  has  given  me  an  opportunity  for  acquiring 
the  information  I  shall  present,  and  enabled  me  to 
make  out  a  reasonably  clear  chain  of  history  from  the 
beginning  until  now.  And,  moreover,  in  the  narration 
of  the  events  to  be  brought  forward,  I  shall  not  allow 
anything  to  swerve  me  from  telling  without  fear  or 
favor  what  I  believe  to  be  the  historical  truth.  Malice 
toward  none  and  charity  toward  all  shall  actuate  me 
in  this  labor  of  love. 

My  principal  authority  for  this  history  is  the  unpub- 
lished German  MS.  previously  mentioned,  v/ritten  by 
the  faithful,  exact  and  reliable  chronicler  Andreas 
Jung,  of  blessed  memory.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
settlers,  a  man  of  fair  education,  and  a  devoted  church- 
man. For  a  period  extending  from  1753  to  1808  he 
was  one  of  the  leaders  among  the  Lutherans,  an  elder 
and  the  church  treasurer  from  the  formation  of  the 
congregation  to  the  time  of  his  death.  His  descend- 
ants are  still  to  be  found  in  connection  with  the  con- 


yi '  I  m 


U  *'" 


rh 


I- 


i68 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


-.ji 


gregation.  And  it  was  from  the  hands  of  one  of  these 
descendants,  Mr.  Francis  Young,  of  Martin's  Brook, 
that  this  MS.,  which  he  wrote,  came  into  my  posses- 
sion. With  this,  by  way  of  introduction,  let  us  to  the 
story. 

The  name  Lui^i;NBU)  t,  applied  to  the  town  and 
county  which  they  ^ctlled  r^  Nova  Scotia,  shows  the 
affectionate  regard  of  the  Germans  for  the  land  of 
their  birth.  Many  of  them  came  from  the  Duchy  of 
Liineburg,  in  Lower  Saxony,  the  capital  of  which  is  a 
fortified  town  of  the  same  name,  on  the  river  Ilmenau. 
In  the  Agende,  or  Book  of  Church  Forms,  prepared 
for  the  use  of  the  Church  in  the  Province  by  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Temme,  published  in  Philadelphia,  1816,  as 
also  in  the  Lutheran  hymn-book,  issued  in  London, 
1820,  for  the  same  body,  the  name  is  spelled  Liine- 
burg; but  having  become  Anglicized,  the  proper  or- 
thography calls  for  two  n's  in  the  name. 

Lunenburg  was  erected  into  a  county  by  Act  of 
Assembly,  August  7th,  1759.  Next  to  Halifax,  it  is 
the  oldest  settlement  formed  by  the  English  govern- 
ment in  the  Province  of  Nova  Scotia.  The  first  re- 
cord of  that  part  in  which  the  shire  town  is  located 
dates  back  to  1630,  when  it  occurs  in  a  grant  from  Sir 
Wm.  Alexanc'er  to  Claude  and  Charles  La  Tour,  dated 
April   30th,  in  which  grant   is  a  description  of  the 


1. 


THE   FOUKntNG   OF   LU>4ENBUllG. 


169 


boundaries  of  the  French  settlement  at  and  near  La 
Have.  It  is  spoken  of  in  a  grant  from  Oliver  Crom- 
well to  Charles  La  Tour  and  others,  dated  August 
9th,  1656,  under  its  Indian  appellation  of  "  Merli- 
guesche,"  a  word  in  the  language  of  the  Micmacs, 
meaning  Miiky  Bay.  In  1686,  it  is  again  referred  to 
in  the  census  returns  of  De  Muelles  under  the  same 
name.  There  were  then  at  La  Have  and  M  rli.  lesche 
nineteen  souls,  three  arpents  tilled  (nearly  ^re>  <xres), 
nine  fusils  and  one  pig.  Governor  Puili-'^/'  in  1720 
recommends  that  a  settlement  be  made  ♦^here,  and  de- 
scribes it  as  a  place  conveniently  situated  for  the  seat 
of  government. 

In  1722  it  again  appears  in  connection  with  a 
tragedy  partly  enacted  and  partly  averted.  This 
tragedy,  like  a  stain  of  blood  almost  effaced  by  the 
lapse  of  time,  has  passed  away  from  the  recollection 
of  man.  Not  a  dozen  people  in  the  province  to-day, 
perhaps,  so  much  as  know  it  ever  occurred,  although 
at  the  time  of  its  occurrence  all  who  heard  it  shud- 
dered. The  fishing  fleet,  not  then  the  large  and  well- 
appointed  body  it  is  now,  blocked  by  untoward 
weather  and  head  winds,  lay  peacefully  at  anchor  in 
the  Strait  of  Canseau.  The  thought  of  danger  did  not 
enter  the  minds  of  the  hardy  and  jovial  sons  of  the 
sea.     Seventeen  vessels,  with  their  seventeen  crews, 


i'i 


m 


1i! 


I'll 


ffl' 


; 


Hi: 


170 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


lay  idiy  in  the  passage,  waiting  for  the  favorable  winds 
to  blow  and  speed  them  on  their  way.  But  an  enemy 
hovered  round,  secret,  silent,  vindictive  as  Nemesis. 
And  when  in  the  unguarded  hour  of  the  night  the  yells 
of  painted  savages  burst  upon  the  startled  ears  of  the 
fishermen,  not  a  soul  of  them  was  ready  for  the  fray. 
They  fought  like  heroes,  but  their  enemies  over- 
powered them,  outnumbering  them  three  to  one. 
Those  who  were  not  tomahawked  and  murdered  on 
the  spot  were  taken  prisoners  and  their  vessels  seized. 
A  large  number  of  prisoners  were  taken  by  the  sav- 
ages, reserved  for  torture,  and  carried  away.  But  re- 
prisal followed  at  rack  with  swift  and  vengeful  step. 
Some  of  the  vessels  were  retaken  by  Captain  Robin- 
son, together  with  many  of  the  prisoners,  and  many  of 
the  Indians  killed.  Twenty  of  these  prisoners,  how- 
ever, had  been  already  carried  to  Merliguesche,  which 
at  that  time  would  appear  to  have  been  the  seat  of  an 
Indian  village,  and  there,  bound  hand  and  foot,  were 
under  the  guard  of  their  savage  captors,  awaiting  the 
slow  lingering  death  by  torture  at  the  stake.  The 
pow-wow  had  been  held,  preparations  had  been  com- 
pleted, and  the  fires  of  death  were  ready  to  be  lighted, 
when,  in  the  midst  of  their  barbarous  revelry,  the  In- 
dians were  surprised  by  the  arrival  of  an  English 
sloop -of  war  under  the  command  of  Captain  Blin.     He 


I 


J*'l 


i-  ii,!5 


THE    FOUNDING      -F    LUNENBURG. 


171 


had  been  at  one  time  himself  a  prisoner,  and  while  in 
the  hands  of  the  Indians  a  signal  had  been  agreed 
upon  which  should  be  a  protection  to  him.  He  made 
this  signal  and  several  of  the  Indians  went  off  to  the 
sloop.  Proposals  were  made  by  him  for  the  ransom 
of  the  captives,  and  the  Indians,  though  loath  to  give 
up  the  anticipated  scalp-dance  around  their  intended 
victims,  nevertheless  accepted  the  proffered  ransom ; 
the  prisoners  were  set  free  and  carried  away  on  board 
the  sloop,  rejoicing  in  their  unexpected  escape  from 
torture  and  death. 

In  1745,  Messieurs  Beauharnais  and  Hocquart,  in  a 
letter  to  Count  de  Maurepas,  bearing  date  September 
1 2th,  write:  "At  Merliguesche,  a  small  harbor  five 
leagues  east  of  La  Have,  are  only  eight  settlers; 
among  the  rest  is  Paul  Guidry  alias  Grivois"  (jovial 
or  jolly)  "a  good  coast  pilot."  The  Micmacs  of  1722 
had  now  departed  from  their  village  and  the  French 
Acadians  were  in  peaceable  possession. 

The  next  recorded  mention  of  the  place  is  that  to 
which  reference  has  already  been  made,  being  that  of 
the  Hon.  Edward  Cornwallis,  in  1749,  at  which  time 
the  original  eight  French  Acadians  had  increased  to 
upwards  of  fifty  families.  He  says  in  his  report: 
"  They  seem  to  be  very  peaceable ;  say  they  always 
looked   upon    themselves  as   English   subjects;    have 


■'i' 1 


I 


^ 


1', 


ll 


"i 


I  ; 


172 


ACADIE    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


their  grants  from  Colonel  Mascarene,  the  Governor 
of  Annapolis,  and  showed  an  unfeigned  joy  to  hear  of 
the  new  settlement.  They  assure  us  the  Indians  are 
quite  peaceable  and  not  to  be  feared.  There  are  none 
hereabouts." 

It  was  now  determined  by  the  authorities  at  Hali- 
fax to  form  a  new  settlement,  and  steps  were  taken  to 
locate  it.  At  a  meeting  of  H.  M.  Council,  at  Halifax, 
August  23d,  1750,  the  following  localities  were  named 
as  suitable  for  the  projected  colony: 

La  Have,  Malagash,  Head  of  Chebucto  Bay,  North- 
west River  and  opposite  side  of  Halifax  harbor.  We 
have  no  details  of  the  discussion. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  same,  May  loth,  1753,  it  was 
"Resolved  that  the  Settlement  to  be  made  at  Mer- 
ligash  be  called  the  Township  of  Lunenburg,  the 
District  thereof  to  be  hereafter  ascertained." 

There  is  further  proof  that  the  name  Lunenburg 
was  not  at  first  applied  to  the  settlement  merely;  in 
Colonel  Lawrence's  commission,  dated  May  28th, 
1753.  we  find  that  he  was  deputed  "  *  *  *  to  settle  a 
Township  by  the  name  of  Lunenburg,  lying  on  the 
harbor  of  Merligash  in  this  Province." 

Malagash  was  chosen  on  account  of  its  nearness  to 
Halifax,  its  good  harbor,  and  its  productive  fisheries ; 
though  there  is  little  doubt  the  choice  of  location  was 


I 


THE    FOUNDING    OF    LUNENBURG. 


^7Z 


a  mistake,  for  had  the  town  been  located  at  La  Have, 
it  would  in  all  probability  have  been  more  populous, 
important  and  larger  than  it  is.  At  the  mouth  of  that 
finest  river  in  the  Province  there  is  room  for  several 
towns,  and  the  harbor  is  safe,  conmiodious  and  easy 
of  access.  Lumbering  and  manufacturing  would  then 
have  been  combined  with  fishing  and  commerce  to 
make  Lunenburg  what  it  never  can  be  where  it  is. 

"A  short  time  before  the  sailing  of  the  expedition, 
Governor  Hopson  received  intelligence  of  an  alarming 
nature,  as  the  following  letter  to  the  Lords  of  Trades 
and  Plantations  explains: 

"Halifax,  May  25TH,  1753. 

"  Mv  Lords:  I  last  night  received  an  express  from 
the  officer  commanding  at  Pisiquid  (Windsor)  advising 
me  that  he  is  credibly  informed  that  there  are  three 
bodies  of  Indians  disposed  of  in  those  parts,  amount- 
ing to  about  three  hundred,  who  lie  there  in  readiness, 
as  they  give  out,  to  oppose  the  settlement  of  Merle- 
gash,  and  intend  to  begin  their  march  there  as  soon  as 
they  have  information  when  the  settlers  are  to  sail, 
which  information  they  propose  to  get  by  intercepting 
our  courier;  but  as  I  had  intelligence  before  the  couri- 
ers were  despatched,  I  have  sent  letters  by  theiii  cal- 
culated to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  acquaint- 
ing the  officer  that  I  have  sent  a  large  party  to  Cobe- 


M/3 


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\  \ 

\ 

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ACADIE    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


i! 


fi 


<  -1  1 


n 


.1  :i  ! 


quid  to  see  how  the  Indians  are  disposed,  and  that  I 
had  deferred  the  expedition  until  their  return. 

"  However,  the  first  embarkation  of  them  will  sail  as 
soon  as  the  wind  is  fair,  and  will  consist  of  about  450 
persons  armed  and  fit  for  service,  the  troops  included ; 
the  rest  will  follow  as  as  soon  as  I  hear  these  have  got 
a  footing. 

"  The  only  vessel  of  force  we  have  here  is  the  *'  Al- 
bany," Sloop  of  War,  Capt.  Rous  commander,  whom  I 
have  been  obliged  to  request  to  countenance  the  new 
settlement,  which  he  has  most  heartily  undertaken." 

The  desired  effect  was  produced.  No  Indians  ap- 
peared to  oppose  the  landing,  but  very  shortly  after  it 
they  became  numerous. 

The  expedition  was  ready  to  sail  on  the  28th  of 
May.  It  consisted  of  fifteen  transports,  varying  from 
60  to  98  tons,  and  the  sloop  "  York,"  Captain  Syl- 
vanus  Cobb. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  by 
Governor  Hopson  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  and  Planta- 
tions, dated  July  23d,  1753. 

'****!  pitched  upon  Merlegash  for  the  out- 
settlement  of  the  Foreigners.  It  was  preferable  to 
Musquedoboit,  as  there  is  a  good  harbor,  which  is 
wanting  at  Musquedoboit.  Had  it  been  possible  to 
have  sent  the  settlers  by  land,  it  would  have  been  a 


0 


D 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  LUNENBURG. 


175 


great  satisfaction  to  me  to  have  saved  the  expense  of 
hiring  vessels,  but  on  enquiring  found  it  absolutely 
impossible,  not  only  as  they  would  have  had  at  least 
fifty  miles  to  go  through  the  woods,  but  there  is  not 
any  road.  .    .  " 

The  expedition,  under  command  of  Captain  Law- 
rence, afterward  Governor  of  the  Province,  and  best 
known  as  the  officer  who  gave  Colonel  Winslow  his 
orders  and  authority  for  the  removal  of  the  French 
Acadians,  sailed  on  the  day  specified,  and  arrived  at 
its  destination  June  seventh,  1753,  from  which  date 
forever  the  founding  of  Lunenburg  is  to  be  reckoned. 

There  were  in  the  company  one  thousand  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three  emigrants,  Germans,  Swiss,  and 
Montbeliards,  as  stated  above.  The  ship  "Albany," 
Capt.  Rouse,  acted  as  convoy.  Colonel  Lawrence 
was  the  commander  of  the  expedition.  Other  promi- 
nent men  were  Capt.  Patrick  Sutherland,  Lieutenant 
John  Creighton  and  Mr.  Sebastian  Zouberbuhler,  who 
had  been  appointed  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  new 
settlement. 

On  entering  the  harbor,  they  came  to  anchor,  imd 
sent  scouts  ashore  to  ascertain  whether  anv  Indians 
were  about.  None  being  observed,  they  disem- 
barked at  the  mouth  of  a  small  brook  on  the  north- 
east side  of  the  harbor.     The  hill  adjoining  and  the 


m 


-^! 


^1 

ih 

rill'' 


I 


\n 


m  ' 

! 

1  |S9t  :• 

'::i 

h 

I        ■ 

V 

■:  r 

7V 

r 

( 

r 

'  1% 

'■*  I 

1 

f.i 


w 


176 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


s  1 


brook   v^ere  ft::.iTied   in    honor  of  Capt.  Rouse.     The 
name  is  still  retained. 

Immediately  after  landing  the  settlers  proceeded  to 
cut  a  road  from  the  shore  to  the  top  of  the  hill  which 
overlooks  the  harbor,  and  to  erect  a  block-house 
thereon.  The  hill  has  since  been  known  as  "  Block- 
house Hill,"  and  is  now  known  by  no  other  name,  al- 
though at  one  time  it  was  called  "Windmill  Hill." 
A  story  is  told  of  a  woman  who  was  observed  leaning 
against  a  hemlock  tree  near  the  landing  place  and 
weeping  bitterly  at  the  hard  prospect  before  them. 
They  next  cleared  away  the  woods,  principally  spruce 
and  hackmatack,  from  the  town  plot.  This  was  laid 
out  in  six  divisions,  which  were  named  after  the  offi- 
cers appointed  to  conmiand  each — Zouberbuhler's, 
Creighton's,  Moreau's,  Rudolf's,  Strasburghcr's  and 
Steinford's.  The  first  of  these  is  the  furthest  west. 
Huts  and  log  houses  were  erected  as  the  ground  was 
cleared,  but  owing  to  want  of  accommodations,  the  set- 
tlers must  hiive  had  a  hard  time  of  it  for  a  few  days. 
Now-a-days,  "camping  out"  is  great  fun,  but  we  may 
be  sure  that  the  unfortunate  emigrants  got  but  little 
fun  out  of  their  "tenting  on  the  cold  ground."  Vv-'hat 
a  change  it  must  have  been  for  them!  How  their 
hearts  must  have  yearned  for  their  dear  Fatherland, 
never  perhaps   dearer   than   when    they   found   them- 


THE    FOUNDING    OF    LrNKNIJURG. 


"^17 


selves  in  the  lonely  spot  that  was  henceforth  to  be 
their  home! 

Each  settler  was  allowed  a  town  lot,  a  garden  lot, 
and  a  three-hundred-acre  lot.  These  were  assigned 
by  drawing  lots,  and  the  owner  was  required  to  en- 
close his  town  lot  and  erect  suitable  buildings.  Each 
head  of  a  family  building  a  house  was  assigned  700 
feet  of  boards,  with  nails  proportionate,  and  500 
bricks.  As  it  was  expedient  to  make  the  settlement 
as  compact  as  possible,  for  fear  of  the  attacks  of  the 
Indians,  no  buildings  were  allowed  to  project  beyond 
a  certain  limit,  and  for  the  same  reason  a  picket  fence 
was  run  across  from  the  harbor  in  front  of  the  town  to 
that  at  the  back,  and  a  chain  of  nine  block-houses  was 
built;  one  at  Musha-Mush  (Mahone  Bay),  one  at 
Upper  La  Have — on  a  high  hill  about  eight  miles 
from  Lunenberg,  where  one  of  the  guards  was  killed 
by  the  Indians — one  at  Lower  La  Have,  and  one 
about  two  miles  from  Mush-a-Mush,  which  district  has 
since  been  known  as  "Block-house." 

Very  soon  after  the  landing,  the  Indians  made  their 
presence  felt  by  murdering  every  settler  who  happened 
to  get  beyond  the  line  of  defence.  A  militia  regiment 
was  organized,  with  Patrick  Sutherland,  Esq.,  as  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel,   Leonard   C.   Rudolf,  Esq.,  as   Major, 

and Wiederholtz,  as  Adjutant.     The  men  wore 

If 


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■  ^m  '!j 


.  il 


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f  -ii' 


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i  *  I 


i'j 


;H'- 


178 


acadip:  and  the  acadians. 


M 


t\ 


ill: 


arn}ed,  and  guards  were  kept  day  and  night.  The  In- 
dians kept  them  constantly  on  the  alert,  as  scarcely  a 
day  passed  without  either  some  encounter  with  the 
savages,  or  some  alarm  of  their  presence. 

Where  the  sleepy  little  French  settlement  had  stood 
through  so  many  years  undisturbed,  except  by  the 
occasional  visits  of  the  neighboring  friendly  Indians,  a 
scene  of  busy  activity  was  now  presented.  The  forests 
encroaching  on  the  little  area  of  cleared  land  by  the 
sea  had  to  be  cut  away,  mills  for  converting  the  luxu- 
riant growth  into  building  material  bad  to  be  erected, 
and  out  of  the  scanty  means  at  their  command  tlv? 
settlers  had  to  make  for  themselves  such  houses  its 
they  could.  But  first  they  must  know  wr,!re  thev^ 
should  erect  their  habitations,  and  what  particular  spoi 
each  man  should  call  his  own.  The  town  was  accord- 
ingly laid  out  in  six  divisions,  named  aflct  ^he  officers  in 
charge:  Zouberbuhler's  on  the  exUc.ne  west,  Creigh- 
ton's,  Moreau's,  Rudolf's,  Strasburgher's,  following 
in  order,  and  Steindorf's  farthest  east.  The  town  lots 
were  then  disposed  of  by  the  casting  of  the  lot,  and 
each  settler  was  allowed  in  addition  a  three  hundred- 
acre  tract  of  woodland  in  the  vicinity  and  a  thirty-acre 
ficld  adjoining.  More  than  five  hundred  town  lots 
weie  irawn.  and  upon  these,  huts  of  bark,  houses  of 
\o2--y  aptl  such  other  structures  as  the  means  of  the 


1 


I 


THE  FOUNDING  OF   LUNENBURG. 


179 


proprietors  would  allow,  were  hastily  erected.  By  the 
end  of  the  following  year  five  saw-mills  were  in  opera- 
tion, and  three  hundred  and  sixty  houses,  cabins  and 
huts  were  erected. 

A  glance  at  the  plan  of  the  town,  as  it  stands  today, 
shows  the  power  that  governed  at  its  inception. 
Through  the  centre,  from  east  to  west,  extend.';  a  space 
one  block  in  width,  devoted  to  publi'"  uses.  In  ilic 
centre  of  this  space,  where  the  middle  point  of  the 
original  town  plot  lay,  is  located  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land church.  Although  the  settlement  was  composed 
of  people,  the  great  majority  of  whom  were  not  in  ac- 
cord with  the  religious  teachings  of  that  body,  never- 
theless its  building  had  the  preferred  location,  because 
that  body  had  the  power. 

The  squares  into  which  the  town  was  laid  out  are 
exact,  but  the  streets  are  exceedingly  narrow,  and 
being  destitute  of  sidewalks,  are  a  conti'  il  perplexity 
and  wonder  to  the  visitor  accustomed  that  luxury, 
and  unused  to  walking  on  the  middle  i  a  .street,  on  a 
common  level  with  the  patient  ox  But  it  was  for 
good  reasons  that  the  streets  were  made  narrow,  rea- 
sons valid  at  the  time,  no  doubt,  and  hence  not  to  be 
criticised  with  undue  severity.  Wide  streets  would 
spread  the  town  over  more  ground  and  separate  the 
people,  when,  for  mutual  defense  and  friendliness,  their 


I   ;•■ 


'  I M 


■I,  r, 
I',  i 


:^i;l 


'4 


i8o 


ACADIK   AN'D   THE   ACADIANS. 


first  aim  was  to  draw  near  together.  And,  moreover, 
in  those  early  days  sidewalks  were  not  in  vogue. 

The  sufferings  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  town 
were  terrible  to  contemplate.  From  insufficient  food, 
scanty  clothing,  and  the  exposure  incident  upon  the 
enterprise  in  which  they  were  engaged,  from  dwelling 
in  poor  houses,  and  being  unused  to  the  rigors  of  the 
climate,  sicknesses  that  were  fatal,  and  sufferings  that 
were  dreadful,  prevailed  among  them.  Small-pox, 
fevers,  and  other  contagious  diseases  broke  out  among 
them,  and  thinned  their  falling  ranks.  ^*he  mortality 
among  them  was  awful.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Moreau,  in  a 
letter  to  the  corresponding  committer,  of  the  S.  V.  G. 
in  Halifax,  makes  the  statement,  now  almost  incredi- 
ble, that  by  the  end  of  the  year  1753  three-fourths  of 
the  people  had  died.  That  is,  in  seven  months,  out  of 
one  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty-three,  one  thous- 
and and  eighty-nine  were  in  their  graves;  only  three 
hundred  and  sixty-four  remained. 

It  was  not  alone  disease  and  exposure  that  brought 
death.  The  Indians,  with  whom  the  feeble  French 
settlements  of  the  Acadians  here  and  elsewhere  had 
always  cultivated  friendly  relations,  now  saw  with 
alarm  their  hunting  grounds  encroached  upon  by  the 
establi-shment  of  the  English,  and  they  hung  upon  the 
outskirts  of  the  new-born  Lunenburg,  ready  at  any 


i 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  LUNENBURG. 


l8l 


moment  to  swoop  down,  murder  and  destroy.  A  cor- 
don of  block-houses  was  built  around  the  town  for  its 
defence.  These  were  structures  in  the  shape  of  square 
houses,  made  of  thick  logs,  entered  by  means  of  a  lad- 
der, without  windows,  but  with  loop-holes  to  see 
through  and  shoot  from,  provisioned  to  stand  a  short 
siege,  and  garrisoned  in  times  of  special  alarm.  Nine 
of  these  buildings  were  erected  upon  the  hills  which 
commanded  the  most  extensive  view  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  central  part  immediately  around  the  town 
was  enclosed  with  a  stockade  of  hicrh  pickets,  sharp- 
ened at  the  top,  and  securely  fastened  in  the  ground. 
But  despite  all  precaution  and  the  employment  of 
every  available  means  of  defence,  many  of  the  settlers 
lost  their  lives  at  the  hands  of  their  duskv  foes.  An 
awful  glamour  hangs  round  many  a  spot  in  the  vicin- 
ity where  their  barbarous  deeds  were  done.  Sacrifice 
Island  and  Murderer's  Point  received  their  sinister 
names  from  murders  committed  there. 

The  Hon.  Judge  Des  Brisay,  in  his  valuable  history 
of  the  county,  gives  the  following  sketch  of  one  of 
their  deeds  of  blood.  Two  men,  named  Tanner  and 
Wagner,  were  swimming  in  the  La  Have,  near  where 
now  stands  Hirtle's  mill.  Hearing  a  dog  bark,  and 
seeing  Indians  approaching,  they  dressed  with  all 
speed  and  attempted  to  escape.     Wagner  was  killed, 


\'\  \ 


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Mil 


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182 


ACAniK    AND   THE   ACA1MAN5. 


and  a  musket-ball  passed  through  Tanner's  waistcoat 
and  shirt.  The  name  of  the  Indian  who  shot  Wagner 
was  Labrador.  Years  afterward,  when  Tanner  lived 
on  Heckman's  Island,  Labrador  encamped  there  for 
the  purpose  of  catching  mink,  and  went  to  Tanner's 
hou  1,  where  he  boasted  of  the  large  number  of  men 
lie  had  killed.  After  the  occurrence  at  the  river  Tan- 
ner naturally  felt  aggrieved  at  this,  and  several  times 
went  with  his  gun  to  shoot  Labrador;  but  his  con- 
science would  not  allow  him.  To  the  end  of  his  days 
he  never  could  look  on  a  red  man  with  equanimity, 
and  whenever  he  spoke  of  one  it  was  by  the  name  of 
Teufcl. 

Two  of  the  guard,  on  duty  at  the  block-house  near 
where  Wa^iier  was  shot,  were  sent  to  Lunenburtj  for 
provisions.  Reaching  Dare's  Lake,  around  which  a 
foot-path  had  been  made,  they  were  tracked  by  the 
dogs  of  the  Indians,  and  having  climbed  into  trees, 
were  shot  down  by  the  savages.  The  firing  was  heard 
at  the  block-house,  and  a  party  going  out  found  their 
comrades,  from  whom  life  had  just  departed.  They 
buried  them,  and  passed  on  to  Lunenburg.  On  their 
return  they  found  that  the  bodies  had  been  disinterred 
and  scalped. 

The  following  extract  from  the  Parish  Register  of 
St.  John's  church  speaks  for  itself: 


. 


( 


THE    FOUNDING    OF    LUNENHURG.  1 83 

••Buried  by  Rev.  Jean  Baptiste  Moreau,  August  27111,  1758. 
Joseph  Ilye, 

Cotirad  Hatty,  •  Scalped." 

Kosina,  his  wife, 

The  following  is  a  literal  copy  of  an  old  Journal  of 
the  same  date. 

"A  Journal  Book  kept  when  gon  hounting  after 
the  Indians,  September  8th,  I75<S,  under  the  command 
of  Capt.  Christopher  Jessen,  and  Lieut.  Campbell  of 
the  regular  troops : 

"  1758.  Sept.  8th. — This  morning  a  party  of 
twenty-three  men,  regular  troops  and  one  I.ieut. 
Campbell,  and  one  Capt.  Lieut.,  four  Lieuts.,  six- 
sergeants,  eight  corporals,  and  sixty-one  private  men 
of  the  militia,  being  in  the  whole  one  hundred  and 
four,  under  the  command  of  the  officers,  Lieut.  Camp- 
bell, of  the  regulars,  and  Capt.  D.  Christopher  Jessen, 
of  the  militia,  went  away  in  the  morning  at  six  o'clock, 
to  La  Have  block-house,  and  came  there  about  ten 
o'clock  and  a  half  Out  about  four  miles  from  the 
block-house,  close  to  the  road,  we  found  two  soldiers 
scalped,  and  bare  naked,  except  one  coat  lying  upon 
them.  They  were  going  to  town  for  provisions, 
and  about  seven  of  the  clock  in  the  morning,  they 
hearing  two  guns  firing  off,  and  this  finder  poor  fel- 
lows where  scalped.     From  the  block-house  we  stood 


I 

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ACADJE    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


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W.  by  N.  About  ten  miles  from  the  block-house 
we  encamped.  Nothing  extraordinary.  About  fi\'e 
o'clock  we  found  the  place  where  the  Indians  had 
lested  themselves  for  about  two  hour. 

"  9th. — We  steered  away  from  hence  N.  E.  about  five 
miles,  then  made  a  halt  to  breakfast,  but  in  the  morn- 
ing made  some  tracks  of  Indians,  and  the  different  di- 
visions were  ordered  to  be  ready  to.  At  ten  o'clock 
we  steered  E.  N.  E.,  and  about  1 1  o'clock  we  found  a 
place  where  the  Indians  encamped,  but  could  discover 
nothing,  A  little  after  5  o'clock  we  came  to  encamp- 
ment. Nothing  extraordinary,  except  we  found  the 
place  on  La  Have  river  where  the  Indians  got  over, 
and  the  road  was  to  be  seen  at  the  other  side. 

'*  loth. — At  six  o'clock  we  went  away  from  our  en- 
campment, steered  E.  S.  E.,  and  about  8  o'clock  we 
came  down  to  Mush-mush  river,  eight  miles  from 
block-house,  and  from  thence  we  went  down  by  the 
river,  and  arrived  at  1 1  o'clock  at  the  block-house 
Mush-mush,  and  about  two  o'clock  we  went  to  Baker's 
in  Oakland,  and  was  rainy  weather,  but  we  met  noth- 
ing extraordinary. 

"  nth, — From  the  loth  in  the  afternoon, to  the  i  ith 
day,  rainy  weather.  Encamped  by  Baker's  till  about 
12  o'clock,  when,  clearing  up  went  to  Mush-mush,  and 
from  thence  to  N.  W.  Range  block-house,  where  we 


ii . ; 


THE    FOUNDING   OF    LUNENBURG. 


185 


g'ot  intelligence  from  Pierre  Jean,  who  sent  his  son  last 
Friday,  to  No.  24  L.  B.,  between  8  and  10  o'clock, 
and  in  coming  back  he  was  carried  off  by  the  Indians, 
being  ten  years  old.  From  the  block-house  we  stood 
South-west  for  about  tiiree  miles,  then  stood  S.  S.  F., 
where  we  encamped.     Nothing  extraordinary. 

"  1 2th. — About  eight  o'clock  went  from  our  en- 
campment, and  steered  E.  S.  E.,  about  six  miles,  and 
from  thence  stood  W.  S.  W.  about  five  miles,  where 
we  encamped  between  La  liave  and  Centre,  about  five 
miles  from  the  block-house  *  *  *  *  f^j.  guar(^i 
before  we  came  to  Centre,  at  the  back  of  N.  W. 
Range,  we  found  a  ladder  four  steps  high.  Nothing 
extraordinary. 

"  13th. — From  our  encampment  between  or  at  the 
back  of  Centre  and  La  Have,  and  stood  through  the 
woods  at  the  back  of  La  Have  settlement.  Came 
there  about  four  o'clock.     Nothing  extraordinary. 

"  14th. — From  La  Have  we  marched  to  the  head  of 
Rose  Bay,  to  old  Meyer,  and  from  hence  to  old 
Miller,  ^-  *  *  *  ^j^^-}  encamped  behind  F.  Hey- 
berger's  lot,  but  nothing  extraordinary. 

"15th. — We  went  away  from  our  encampment 
about  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  about  twelve 
o'clock  arrived  at  town  in  Lunenburg,  and  dismissed 
our  men,  and  gave  them  thanks  for  their  good  ser- 
vices." 


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ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


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This  somewhat  confused  account  of  one  of  the 
many  expeditions  sent  out  from  the  infant  settlement, 
with  its  queer  nautical  terms  and  precision  of  detail, 
will  serve  as  the  history  of  the  others,  different  as  to 
particulars,  but  similar  in  outline;  for  the  settlers  and 
soldiers  many  a  time  "  gon  hounting  after  the  In- 
dians," while  they  were  laying  the  foundations  of  the 
town  in  their  blood. 


INI 


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i  III! 


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I  I 


CHAPTER  XV. 


PROSCRIPTION,  REBELLION  AND  TROUBLE. 

THE  Indians  continued  their  depredations,  and  em- 
boldened by  their  success,  threatened  the  extinc- 
tion of  the  settlement.  In  the  first  seven  vears  the 
population  barely  made  up  the  losses  of  the  first. 
Incited  by  the  missionaries  of  the  French  sent  down 
from  Quebec,  chief  among  whom  was  the  Jesuit  La 
Loutre,  and  paid  for  every  murder  of  an  English  set- 
tler by  the  silver  francs  and  louis  d'  or  of  the  Christian 
Frenchmen,  the  heathen  red  men  reveled  in  blood  and 
massacre.  Dartmouth,  opposite  Halifax,  at  that  time 
felt  their  hostile  hand.  The  cries  of  her  citizens  per- 
ishing under  the  scalping-knife  and  tomahawk,  reached 
and  pierced  the  heart  of  the  governor.  The  flames  of 
her  burning  dwellings  cast  their  lurid  glare  across  the 
dark  waters  of  Chebucto  Bay,  and  through  the  mid- 
night gloom  his  excellency,  by  their  aid,  saw  the 
need  of  stern  dealing  untempered  with  mercy  if  the 
colony  were  to  be  saved  from  its  relentless  foes. 

Accordingly  it  was  proclaimed   that  for  every  male 
Indian  prisoner  taken  above  sixteen  years  of  age,  a 

reward  of  ;^30  should  be  given ;  for  the  scalp  of  such 

(»87) 


!| 


.J 


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It' 


1 88 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


1«., 


♦  I 


ill 


I 


iT 


n 


an  one  the  bounty  was  to  be  £2$,  and  for  women  and 
children  the  reward  was  to  be  in  proportion.  Think 
of  it !  To  set  these  men  to  slay  their  fellow-men  !  To 
fill  the  woods  with  hunters  after  Micmacs !  To  aid, 
abet  and  by  legal  proclamation  sanction  and  reward 
murder!  To  encourage  by  the  highest  civil  authority 
that  which  in  all  civilized  governments  has  been  dealt 
with  as  the  highest  crime  ! 

But  when  it  is  remembered  what  horrible  atrocities 
called  forth  such  awful  reprisals,  the  inhumanity  ap- 
pears less  inexcusable.  Those  were  perilous  times, 
"  the  times  that  tried  men's  souls ;  "  the  times  of  sow- 
ing in  tears  which  as  their  fruit  have  given  us  the 
peaceful  hours  we  now  enjoy.  And  while  the  thought 
of  shedding  human  blood  must  ever  be  abhorrent  to 
the  good,  yet  to  those  whose  only  choice  lay  between 
death  to  themselves,  their  wives  and  children,  or  the 
death  of  their  savage  foes,  the  natural  alternative  to 
choose  would  be  the  latter. 

It  would  be  interesting  at  this  period  in  the  history 
of  the  colony  to  have  had  a  census  of  its  settlers  tab- 
ulated according  to  their  religion.  There  were  among 
them  adherents  of  the  Church  of  England,  Roman 
Catholics,  German  Reformed  and  Lutherans ;  but  of 
the  exact  number  adhering  to  any  particular  confes- 
sion we  must  ever  remain  in  uncertainty.     The  civil 


PROSCRIPTION,  REBELLION    AND   TROUBLE. 


l8 


i> 


and  military  power  was  vested  in  the  hands  of  the 
Church  of  England  people.  True  to  their  traditions, 
they  exercised  it  to  their  own  advantage,  without  re- 
spect to  the  rights  of  others.  To  expect  from  thcin 
that  even  in  this  reign  of  terror,  and  under  the  shadow 
of  death  through  which  the  infant  settlement  was  pass- 
ing, they  would  forego  the  opportunity  presented  for 
dragooning  people  into  the  Established  Church,  would 
be  to  ignore  all  that  history  teaches  concerning  their 
peculiar  methods  and  tactics. 

About  the  time  the  proclamations  were  being  issued 
for  the  Indian  scalps,  other  proclamations  appeared, 
high-sounding  proclamations  from  the  authorities  at 
Halifax,  making  it  known  abroad  that  "  no  declaration 
or  measure  should  at  any  time  be  used  to  disturb  or 
prevent  dissenters  from  the  full  exercise  of  their  re- 
ligious principles  and  mode  of  worship."  The  very 
fact  that  such  a  proclamation  was  necessary  shows  that 
it  was  useless.  The  very  words  in  which  it  was  issued 
prove  that  it  meant  nothing.  "  Dissenters,"  for  ex- 
ample.    Dissenters  from  what? 

But  there  was  method  in  this  madness.  The  Eng- 
lish character  was  simply  asserting  itself.  It  always 
will  assert  itself  The  English  nation  is  great.  It  has 
great  good  qualities  and  noble  traits,  which  have  raised 
it  to  its  deservedly  high  eminence.     But  what  is  hu- 


I 


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It. 


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I 


I 


'•!l 


■ 


:.  m 


i 


''\ 


!!       M 


V' 


190 


ACADIE    AND    TIIF    ACADIA \S. 


^'^'U 


I 


''i', 


m\ 


man  has  its  weak  points.  And  the  very  excellencies 
of  the  Enghsh  character,  pushed  beyond  their  proper 
limit,  become  its  vices.  There  may  be  too  much  of  a 
cjood  thing.  And  of  this,  as  history  shows,  the  Eng- 
lish have  given  the  world  some  striking  instances. 
An  Englishman,  a  thoroughbred,  blue-blooded  Briton, 
loves  authority.  Born  to  command,  his  destiny  is 
upon  him.  And,  though  often  ungraciously,  he  com- 
monly commands  well.  But  the  peculiarity  of  an 
Enfjlishman  in  authoritv  is  to  believe  that  whatever 
accords  with  his  own  interests,  or  what  he  considers 
his  interests,  is  the  right  thing,  and  nothing  in  all  the 
world  will  make  him  believe  that  it  will  not  be,  if  it  be 
not  at  the  time,  the  best  arrangement  for  everybody 
else.  Your  vivacious  Frenchman  will  submit  to  a 
change  in  his  plans,  shrug  his  shoulders  and  laugh  the 
memory  away.  Your  patient  German  will  ponder  the 
evidence  and  submit,  when  he  sees  the  balance  of  tes- 
timony against  him.  But  your  bold  Biiton,  never. 
And  there  is  really  no  selfishness  in  this.  It  is  not  for 
a  moment  to  be  supposed  that  there  is  anything  more 
than  the  self-love  enjoined  in  Scripture  in  the  tenacity 
which  he  exhibits  in  holding  fast  to  what  suits  him 
and  falls  in  with  his  plans.  He  holds  it  quite  hon- 
estly, and  commonly  without  affectation  of  either 
concealment  or  display,  as  he  would  hold  an  axiom 


li 


PROSCRIPTION,  REBELLION    AND    I  ROUBLE.  \<jl 

which  needs  no  demonstration,  which  in  point  of  fact 
will  admit  of  no  demonstration,  because  it  has  no  other 
side — that  what  he  holds  to  be  right  must  necessarily 
be  so  because  he  holds  it  to  be  so. 

From  this  unreasoning  habit,  which  is  simply  the 
virtue  of  self-confidence  overstrained,  the  English 
people  have  been  accustomed  to  bind  upon  the  backs 
of  others  burdens  that  were  heavy  and  grievous  to  be 
borne.  As  proof  of  this,  let  the  history  of  the  colo- 
nies now  forming  the  United  States  bear  witness. 
Let  Ireland,  ground  between  the  nether  mill- stone  of 
Roman  Catholic  priestcraft  and  the  upper  mill-stone 
of  English  intolerance,  be  also  summoned.  Let  the 
summary  disposal  of  the  Acadians  by  our  self-same 
Governor  Lawrence,  of  Nova  Scotia,  bear  further  wit- 
ness. And  when  the  evidence  has  been  summed  up 
the  fact  will  stand  patent  to  the  eyes  of  all  but  Eng- 
lishmen, that  in  the  exercise  of  authority  they  do  not 
merely  not  know  that  there  are  two  sides  to  every 
question,  but  they  are  likely  to  resent  as  an  insult  any 
attempt  to  inform  them  of  their  ignorance. 

This  little  critique  on  English  character  is  given 
with  a  free  hand  and  the  best  intentions,  with  the  ex- 
pectation that  it  will  find  its  way  to  the  minds  of 
many  English  people  in  Nova  Scotia,  not  to  offend 
them,  but  to  furnish  a  little  wholesome  reading  of  a 


in 


i  iw 


ill 


1 " 


I 


4 


i  ! 


''.-1, 


I' 


i 


I     1 


iij 


,!     .  ■  ' 


hi 


t  I 


Hi 


^lli! 


1 1 


;     I 


192 


ACADIE    AND   THE    ACAIMAX?^. 


kind  they  are  not  accustomed  to,  which  will  be  inter- 
esting to  them  by  way  of  variety,  and  to  enable  them 
to  see  the  other  side  of  the  history  of  the  large  body 

of  Germans  among  them  as  others  see  that  history. 
Tn   the   chronicles  of  Andreas   Jung,   that   unique 

writer  says  that  when  tne  German  Lutherans  were 
brought  from  Halifax  to  Lunenburg  they  petitioned 
the  Governor  to  secure  for  them  a  minister  of  their 
own  faith,  which  the  Governor  graciously  promised  he 
would  do.  But  that  was  the  end  of  the  matter.  No 
minister  came.  The  Germans,  nevertheless,  felt  that 
the-  •  numbers  entitled  them  to  some  consideration  at 
ti  hands  of  the  authorities,  if  their  faith  did  not, 
wherefore  they  still  leaned  upon  the  hope  that  some- 
thing would  soon  be  done  to  supply  their  spiritual  des- 
titution. They  had  not  yet,  poor  people,  learned  the 
spirit  and  the  temper  of  their  rulers.  They  were  "  dis- 
senters," innocently  holding  in  all  simplicity  of  heart 
the  truth  as  they  had  been  taught  it  in  their  youth 
and  childhood,  and  it  was  not  to  be  expected  of  them 
that  they  should  know  of  state-craft  and  intrigue  and 
compulsion  in  matters  of  conscience,  nor  yet  thc-t  they 
.should  appreciate  the  beauties  of  "  conformity."  They 
were  simply  expected  to  conform.  The  English  rulers 
supposed  themselves  called  to  regulate  the  conscience 
of  the  community,  and  the   "  Dutchmen"  must  give 


PUOSCKlPTlO>»,  HEnKKLlON    AND   TROUBLE. 


J  93 


way.  And  thus  it  came  to  pass  that  occurrences  quite 
remote  from  the  matter  of  rehgion  wore  dragged  in  to 
do  duty  in  shaping  consequences  in  religious  affairs,  as 
shall  presently  appear. 

But  before  I  proceed  to  that,  I  observe  that  the 
infant  settlement  had  its  incidents  and  accidents  giving 
variety  to  the  life  of  its  inhabitants.  Of  one  of  these 
tradition  speaks  on  this  wise.  During  the  first  year, 
when  the  ice  was  breaking  up  in  the  spring,  some 
boys  were  amusing  themselves  by  pushing  the  floating 
pieces  from  the  shore  and  taking  short  excursions  on 
them  for  pleasure.  Two  of  them,  however,  ventured 
too  far,  got  out  into  deep  water,  and  could  not  return. 
Away  they  went,  "  outward  bound,"  with  a  fair  wind. 
There  were  no  boats  j.t  hand,  few  had  yet  been  built, 
but  logs  were  hastily  fastened  together  to  form  a  raft, 
and  with  this  frail,  unwieldy  craft,  propelled  by  pieces 
of  boards  in  strong  hands,  the  boys  were  overtaken 
near  Battery  Point,  and  safely  brought  to  land. 

The  people  of  Lunenburg  at  the  time  of  its  settle- 
ment may  be  classified  in  two  general  divisions ;  the 
one  being  composed  of  men  of  military  training  and 
habits,  the  other  of  farmers,  vine-dressers  and  me- 
chanics. The  former,  unused  to  labor,  but  skilled  in 
organizing  and  commanding  bodies  of  men,  assumed 

direction  and  control  of  affairs;  while  the  latter,  ac- 
»3 


i  m 


1. 1 


'  1 


I 


H: 


'  < 


;> 


f> 


M 


r!i 

:i.,. 

iiiii  1 

Ini  h 

■ 
I 


ll 


i  i 


ii 


u 


III  If 


194 


ACADIK   AND   TllK   ACAl^IANS. 


customed  to  obey,  fell  naturally  into  the  position 
assicjned  them  as  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of 
water.  This  arrancrement  hccran  as  the  natural  out- 
l^rowth  of  the  British  love  of  supremacy,  as  well  as  of 
the  European  customs,  manners  and  habit  of  thought 
which  the  other  settlers  brought  with  them.  It  was 
continued  by  the  force  of  circumstances,  chief  of  which 
was  the  lack  of  education  and  the  repression  of  free 
speech  and  thought  among  the  people  of  the  second 
class  long  beyond  the  time  when  in  a  free  country 
such  a  state  of  affairs  would  have  been  tolerated.  The 
caste  feeling  rose  high  and  higher.  Those  in  author- 
ity asserted  their  dignity  with  a  spirit  which  would 
have  done  credit  to  a  Chinese  Mandarin,  or  a  Rajah 
of  Hindoostan.  The  line  of  demarcation  between  the 
aristocracy  and  the  plebs  was  as  clearly  drawn  in  that 
frontier  settlement  as  ever  it  was  in  London,  St. 
Petersburg,  or  Berlin.  And  the  servility  with  which 
the  plebeians  waited  upon  the  will  of  their  untitled 
lords  was  equalled  only  by  the  condescension  with 
which  their  services  were  received. 

But  hunger  and  distress  know  little  of  the  things 
which  savor  of  affectation.  Petty  adulation,  in  times 
of  famine  and  nakedness,  speedily  gives  way  before 
the  advance  of  disease  and  death.  In  the  face  of  such 
sombre  threaten  in  gs,  the  stern  hand  of  necessity  is 


fffii 


ul 

1! 

i 

'i  1 

PROSCKII'TION,  KLIBELLION    AND    TROUBLE. 


'95 


raised  to  tear  away  the  mask  of  hypocrisy  and  break 
down  the  lines  of  arbitrary  distinction  between  man 
and  man.  All  this  received  forcible  illustration  in  the 
remarkable  change  which  swept  suddenly  across  the 
face  of  affairs  in  the  infant  settlement.  From  a  state 
of  apparent  quietude,  albeit  one  of  great  and  general 
distress  from  lack  of  provisions,  the  town  at  once  be- 
came the  scene  of  wild  commotion.  The  quiet  game 
of  life  was  being  played  along  beneath  a  smooth  sur- 
face, which  revealed  nothing  of  the  concealed  abyss 
of  feeling  and  passion  which  suddenly  yawned  and 
burst  forth  in  an  event  which,  as  the  unfolding  page 
of  history  declares,  proved  nothing  less  than  a  catas- 
trophe for  the  German  inhabitants  of  the  town. 

Jung  says:  "According  to  what  we  have  been  in- 
formed, our  patrons  and  well-wishers,  whom  we  know 
as  dearly  beloved  fathers  in  Christ,  the  royal  court- 
chaplain  of  the  High  German  court  chapel  of  H.  R. 
II.  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  the  Reverend  Frederick 
Michael  Ziegenhagen,  the  Reverend  Dr.  Phillip  David 
Kreuter,  and  the  sainted  Pastor  Pritius,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  1754,  upon  our  representations,  had 
taken  much  trouble  to  supply  us  with  a  faithful  minis- 
ter. But  the  unexpected  outbreak  of  a  rebellion, 
which  was  caused  by  a  Frenchman  named  Peterquin, 
and  of  which  we  were  not  guilty  in  the  least — as  is 


I'I 


'  ,♦ 


I 

1 


>i. 


II 


PI 


H 


i  I 


il;il: 


4 


f! 


mv 


i  n  M 


flli 


ll 


()'» 


li 


1): 


196 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


known  by  Him  who  searcheth  the  hearts  and  trieth 
the  reins  of  the  children  of  men — frustrated  all  their 
good  intentions."  With  the  explanatory  remark  that 
the  seeming  inconsistency  of  the  dates  given  is  cleared 
up  by  the  fact  that  a  long  time  was  consumed  in  the 
transmission  of  news  at  that  period,  we  go  on  to  pre- 
sent the  official  record  of  the  outbreak  to  which  allu- 
sion has  been  made. 

"memo,  of  the  rebellion. 

"15th  December,  1753.  A  report  was  circulated 
that  Jean  Peterquin,  a  Frenchman,  had  received  a  letter 
from  London,  wherein  it  was  stated  that  Parliament 
had  directed  that  each  person  should  receive  a  pound 
of  bread,  meat,  pease,  rice,  hulled  oats,  molasses,  and 
also  instruments  of  agriculture,  and  five  pounds  each. 
On  hearing  this,  the  people  went  in  search  of  Peter- 
quin, to  get  the  letter,  and  when  they  found  him  they 
imprisoned  him  in  the  cellar  of  the  blockhouse. 
When  this  came  to  the  ears  of  Col.  Sutherland,  he 
went  with  Mr.  Zouberbuhler,  Mr,  Strasburg,  and 
Major  Rudolf,  and  released  Peterquin,  but  he  was 
rescued  from  them  by  the  mob,  and  again  confined  in 
the  blockhouse  under  a  guard  of  ten  men  within  the 
building  and  a  number  outside.  Here  he  was  detained 
until  Sunday,  when  he  endeavored  to  effect  his  escape, 


rROSCKlPTlON,  KEBELLIUN    AND    1  ROUBLE. 


197 


but  having  been  discovered  by  the  guard,  he  was 
removed  from  the  cellar  into  the  body  of  the  block- 
house, bound  hand  and  foot,  and  threatened  if  he  did 
not  produce  the  letter.  On  Sunday  morning  he  de- 
clared that  Mr.  Zouberbuhler  had  received  the  letter 
from  him.  In  consequence  of  this  the  iiihabitants 
were  required  to  assemble  on  the  parade  at  nine 
o'clock,  to  take  measures  for  getting  the  letter  from 
Mr.  Zouberbuhler,  or  to  imprison  him  too.     Then  the 

people  delibereited  the  whole  day,  and  sent  hourly 
messengers  to  the  colonel  for  the  letter  or  Mr.  Zouber- 
buhler, and  this  state  of  things  continued  for  several 
days. 

"  There  was  a  varict)-  of  opinions,  and  a  great  uproar, 
some  desiring  one  thing  and  some  another.  They 
wished  to  force  the  soldiers  to  compel  Mr.  Zouber- 
buhler and  the  Frenchman  to  appear  on  the  parade, 
and  undergo  a  public  examination.  At  the  same 
time  it  was  reported  to  the  colonel  that  the  Indians 
were  near  the  town,  and  in  consequence  he  took  the 
precaution  of  providing  the  store-house  witli  large 
guns.  But  the  messengers  from  the  inhabitants  im- 
mediately repaired  to  him,  and  demanded  to  know 
whether  he  would  remove  the  guns  or  not.  In  fine,  it 
is  evident  that  they  had  taken  the  command  into 
their  own  hands.     On  Wednesday,  the  nineteenth  of 


•1' 
'ill 

i 


if 


!  f> 


\\ 


...11!. 


I 


Ml 


If! 


if 


I  ■ 


198 


ACADIE   AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


,    -i! 


il 


!      '. 


liiii 


1 

(1^ 


It  f  i!  1  ^  I  i 

ifinfi 


nn 


-ill 
f 


this  month,  Peterquin  was  examined  by  the  colonel, 
and  declared  that  he  had  given  the  letter  to  Mr. 
Zouberbuhler,  and  the  time  and  circumstances  of  the 
delivery,  and  professed  that  he  had  nothing  against 
the  colonel,  but  entertained  for  him  all  due  honor  and 
respect.  The  people  were  somewhat  pacified  when 
Peterquin  made  this  declaration.  All  possible  pains 
were  taken  by  Colonel  Monckton,  to  ascertain  the 
rights  of  this  affair;  and  Peterquin  made  a  disclosure 
of  the  whole  transaction  to  the  colonel,  by  which  it 
appeared  that  a  Mr.  Hoffman  showed  a  letter  of  sim- 
ilar import  to  that  first  mentioned,  to  Peterquin  on 
the  parade,  and  told  him  he  had  received  it  from  a 
sailor,  and  that  Hoffman  gave  Peterquin  directions 
how  to  proceed.  In  short,  from  Peterquin's  declara- 
tion, Hoffman  was  the  instigator  and  cause  of  the 
whole  mischief.  The  colonel,  hearing  that  Hoffman 
was  at  Harshman's  house,  sent  an  officer  with  a  party 
of  soldiers,  who  immediately  arrested  and  carried  him 
to  the  block-house.  The  following  day  he  was 
brought  before  the  council,  and  trom  thence  sent  on 
ship-board,  under  a  guard  of  twelve  men  commanded 
by  Capt.  Tricket." 

Hoffman,  it  may  be  of  interest  to  some  to  know, 
had  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Halifax,  whither  he 
was  carried.     He  was  there  indicted  for  high  crime 


PROSCRIPTION,  REBELLION    AND   TROUBLE.  KjCj 


and  misdemeanor,  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  pay 
a  fine  and  undergo  two  years'  imprisonment.  The 
"  Memo,  of  the  Rebellion,"  word  for  word,  letter  for 
letter,  and  point  for  point,  has  been  given  as  it  stands 
in  the  original.  It  is  of  special  interest,  first,  because 
of  the  collateral  evidence  it  furnishes  of  the  distress 
of  the  people  at  the  time  it  occurred.  They  were 
dying  of  starvation,  perishing  from  want  of  the  means 
of  life.  Their  tumult  over  the  imaginary  letter  and 
its  reported  promises  of  meagre  supplies,  meant  bread 
or  blood.  They  were  desperate ;  yet  how  forbearing 
in  their  conduct,  how  mild  in  their  demands !  In 
many  a  community  similarly  driven  by  want,  blood 
would  have  been  shed,  as  it  often  has  been  upon 
lighter  prov^acation. 

The  importance  given  to  the  whole  transaction, 
which  in  itself  was  but  a  trifling  affair,  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  in  government  circles  at  that  particular  period 
a  deep  feeling  of  insecurity  and  uneasiness  prevailed. 
The  Acadians  were  supposed  to  be  growing  hostile;  in 
fact,  they,  at  that  time,  were  withholding  supplies  from 
the  garrison  at  Annapolis  when  it  was  in  distress  from 
the  want  of  provisions ;  they  allowed  a  British  vessel 
to  be  plundered  at  their  very  doors  b)'  a  party  of 
eleven  savages,  without  rendering  any  assistance  to 
the  owner;  they  furnished  information  to  the  French 


i 


•'i\ 


!  , 


!! 


t 


I  ' 


m  i 


;l 


I 


ill 


iri 


i 


■  ;   M 

M^ 

il  ll 


200 


ACADIE   AxND   THE   ACADIANS. 


in  arms,  traded  systematically  with  the  enemies  of 
Britain  at  Louisbourg  and  Quebec,  and  when  the  fort 
at  Beausejour  was  taken,  three  hundred  of  them  had 
been  found  with  arms  in  their  hands  in  open  rebellion 
against  the  British  crown.* 

The  Indians,  too,  continued  to  be  troublesome,  as 
has  been  shown,  and  the  very  life  of  the  settlements  of 
the  English,  both  at  Halifax  and  Lunenburg,  was 
threatened  if  any  dissension  or  civil  discord  broke  out 
among  the  inhabitants  themselves.  It  was,  therefore, 
the  critical  state  of  affairs  at  the  time  it  occurred, 
rather  than  the  enormity  of  the  act  itself,  that  made  the 
rebellion  important.  And,  in  fact,  it  may  be  readily 
inferred  that  the  vagrant  Frenchman  Peterquin,  as  well 
as  Hoffman,  who  enkindled  the  fires  of  discord  among 
the  suffering  people,  both  were  secret  emissaries  of 
the  hostile  Frenchmen,  the  Count  de  Maurepas,  com- 
mandant at  Quebec,  and  the  Jesuit  priest  La  Loutre, 
his  spy  in  the  Annapolis  valley. 

But  let  the  inferences  be  what  they  may,  the  second 
point  of  interest  in  the  account  of  the  rebeUion  shows 
that  the  severest  punishment  fell  upon  the  Germans. 
Jung  declares  them  innocent.  Whom  he  intends  to 
include  in  his  declaration  he  does  not  precisely  state, 
but  as  he  is  writing  the  chronicles  of  the  Lutheran 


^■,See  Nova  Scotia  A- chives,  p.  277. 


PKOSCKIITION,  KKBKIXION    AND    TKOLliLi:.         201 


congregation  there,  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  he  means 
the  members  thereof.  Guilty  or  innocent,  however, 
they  had  to  suffer,  and  the  cruel  punishment  which 
they  had  to  bear  for  the  outbreak,  was  to  be  reported 
to  the  home  government  as  rebellious,  and  condemned 
to  endure  the  withholding  of  the  supply  they  longed 
to  have  for  their  spiritual  needs.  The  plans  of  their 
friends  at  court  for  sending  them  a  minister  of  their 
own  faith,  were,  by  a  refinement  of  cruelty  as  unneces- 
sary as  it  was  severe,  frustrated  by  the  representations 
of  their  participation  in  the  rebellion.  So  far  as  they 
were  concerned,  being  truly  loyal  to  the  British  king 
and  government,  little  importance  could  have  been  at- 
tached to  their  ^proceedings,  but  there  appears,  in  fur- 
ther developments,  grave  reason  to  believe  that  they 
were  used  as  a  pretext  for  hindering  an  effort  wholly 
distasteful  to  English  Episcopalians  in  authority — that 
was  the  effort  to  establish  a  Lutheran  church.  The 
sentence  passed  on  Hoffman  was  doubtless  a  righteous 
judgment,  but  wherein  the  justice  or  reason  appears  for 
making  this  trouble  the  pretext  for  depriving  these 
Lutherans  of  religious  instruction,  and  the  presence  of  a 
teaching  pastor  of  their  own  faith,  is  by  no  means  clear.* 


^  In  comparing  the  date  of  the  "  Rebellion"  with  that  of  the  efibrts 
made  in  I.ondon  l)y  Ziegenhagen,  Kreuter  and  Pritius  for  sending  a 
a  minister,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  in  tl\ose  days  it  took  months  to 
send  a  message  across  the  sea. 


1 1 


my< 


'' 


I- 


U 


202 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


m\ 


Vi, 


I     'iV.    ! 


\lf' 


1!^ 


■< 


)    i 


MAKING   THE    ROAD    FROM     LUNENBURG   TO    HALIFAX,    IN 

1757- 
In  October,  1756,  three  years  and  four  months  after 
the  settlement  of  Lunenburg,  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil at  Halifax  discussed  the  advisability  of  making  a 
road  from  Halifax  to  Lunenburg  "  as  being  of  great 
advantage  to  both  places." 

"  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  MINUTES  OF  HIS    MAJESTY'S 
COUNCIL  AT    HALIFAX. 

''February  igth,  1757. 

"Appeared  before  the  Council  a  number  of  the  Ger- 
man inhabitants  of  Lunenburg,  who  proposed  to 
undertake  to  cut  the  intended  road  from  Lunenburg 
to  Halifax,  and  who  had  marched  hither  by  land  in 
order  to  view  the  country  through  which  the  said  road 
is  proposed  to  be  cut. 

"  They  were  informed  that  they  were  to  make  the 
road  a  rod  wide,  and  were  offered  to  be  paid  at  the 
rate  of  six  pounds  per  mile,  which  they  would  by  no 
means  accept  of,  but  on  the  contrary  insisted  on  so  ex- 
horbitant  a  price  that  no  agreement  could  possibly  be 
made  with  them. 

*'  Wherefore  the  Council  did  advise  that  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor should  write  to  Colonel  Sutherland 
at   Lunenburg,  and  direct  him  to  endeavor  to  agree 


1»ROSCKlt»T10N,  REBELLION   AND  TROUBLE.        203 

with  those  men  or  any  other  of  the  said  Germans,  for 
the  cutting  of  the  road  at  the  said  rate  of  six  pounds 
per  mile,  which  the  Council  did  esteem  a  very  hand- 
some recompense  for  their  labor." 

*'May  20th,  1757. 
"  Mr.  Pernette  appeared  before  the  Council  and 
undertook  the  work.  The  road  was  to  be  ten  feet 
wide.  The  Government  was  to  provide  a  ojuard  for 
the  workmen,  who  were  also  to  have  their  arms  with 
them.  The  price  was  to  be  six  pounds  per  mile.  The 
contractor  was  given  an  advance  of  fifty  pounds,  and 
he  was  to  be  paid  afterwards  as  each  ten  miles  was 
cut." 


m 


I. 


N-f-ii 


"f(!'ti 


J' 


■  \x& 


1 

I! 

.  '1, 

r 

1 '' 

1 

!  : 

t 

i  I ' 


i'i 


ii 


i       !' 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
THE  FRENCH  AND  ACADIANS. 

WHILE  Lunenburg  has  been  considered  almost 
entirely  as  a  German  settlement,  it  must  not  be 
forgotten  that  a  large  percentage  of  its  inhabitants 
were  French.  That  intrepid  people,  noted  everywhere 
for  dash  and  enterprise  and  love  of  adventure,  had 
already  begun  a  settlement  there  when  the  first  Eng- 
lishman rounded  Cross  Island  and  sailed  into  the  har- 
bor of  Merliguesche.  There  already  in  1745  Paul 
Guidry,  the  jolly  coast  pilot,  with  seven  of  his  country- 
men, had  his  home.  On  ^.he  opposite  shore  of  the 
harbor,  at  a  spot  known  as  the  Fire  Cove,  others 
dwelt,  and  the  vestiges  yet  remain  to  tell  of  their  early 
occupation.  Cornwallis  found  them  on  the  present 
site  of  Lunenburg  in  1749.  When  the  town  was 
founded,  among  the  settlers  were  a  number  of  people 
of  French  descent.  Among  the  names  of  persons 
praying  for  the  confirmation  of  original  land  grants 
occur  such  as  Veinot,  Pernette,  Dauphinee,  Morreau, 
and  others  of  evident  French  ancestry. 

In  1754  twenty-five  persons  of  the  same  nationality 

left  Louisbourg  to  escape  from  death  by  starving,  came 

(204) 


THE   FRENCH    AND   ACADIANS. 


20; 


to  Halifax,  and  from  there  were  sent  to  Lunenburg, 
The  names  of  the  men  in  this  party  were  Paul  and 
Charles  Boutin,  Julien  and  Sebastian  Bourneuf,  Joseph 
and  Pierre  Gedri,  Pierre  I'>io,  Francois  Lucas,  and 
Claude  Erot.  The  following  order  accompanied  them 
from  the  Governor's  Secretary  in  Halifax : 

'' Secretary s  Office,  2^th  August,  1754. 

"Dear  Sir  :  The  bearers  hereof  being  in  all  tweiit\- 
five  persons  are  just  arrived  here  from  Louisbouri;, 
from  whence  they  made  their  escape  to  avoid  starving. 
Some  of  them  were  formerly  inhabitants  of  this  coun- 
try, and  are  nearly  related  to  old  Labrador;  they 
have  all  taken  the  oath ;  the  Colonel  desires  you  to 
treat  them  kindly,  ordered  them  to  be  victualled,  to 
have  tools  given  them,  and  land  laid  out  for  them 
where  you  shall  see  most  convenient. 
"  I  am,  Dear  Sir, 

"  Yours,  &c., 

"  Wm.  Cotterell. 
"To  Col.  Sutherland,  Commanding  at  Lunenburg!' 

Andreas  Jung  makes  mention  of  the  arrival  of  a 
large  number  of  French  Lutherans  from  the  Rhine 
Province,  from  Alsace  and  Lorraine.  Thomas  Beanish 
Akins,  the  learned  author  of  "The  Rise  and  Pro- 
gress," says,  p.  17:  ""  In  1752,  five  hundred  Protestants 
of  the  Confession  of  Augsburg  arrived  at  Halifax, 


m 


il 


ill 


I-  i 


,  I 


II 


t '  \  -i 


iifH 


'I 


1 

ijs; 

! 

'.  ■'^ 

ii! 

\kL 

ii' 

i 

206 


ACADIE   AND  THE   ACAniAN?^. 


from  Montbelliard,  etc,"  Jimt;  says  some  of  these 
French  Lutherans  came  to  Lunenburg.  They  were 
known  amon^j  the  Germans  as  "  Mumpol garter."  It 
would  appear  that  the  names  Montbelh'ard  and  Mum- 
polgarter  are  identical.* 

Of  the  Frenchmen,  it  is  said  by  Mr.  Akins,  **  They 
joined  themselves  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  de- 
sired to  partake  of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per." Fifty  families  of  them  were  among  the  colo- 
nists sent  to  Lunenburg.  "These  fifty  families  of 
French,  or  Mumpolgiirter,"  says  Jung,  "were  imme- 
diately supplied  with  a  French  missionary  and  school 
teacher;  while  we  Germans,  who  numbered  more  than 
two  hundred  and  fifty  families,  were  obliged  to  live  all 
along  upon  the  hope  that  our  large  numbers  would 
gain  for  us  a  like  consideration,  and  that  we  also 
would  be  supplied  with  a  minister  and  school-teacher, 
so  that  our  young  people  would  at  least  be  able  to 
gain  a  little  instruction.     Several  times  we  handed  in 

*  My  friend,  Prof.  J.  Liechti,  Professor  of  Modern  Languages  in 
Dalhousie  College,  Halifax,  says :  "  Mumpolgarter  is  the  German 
name  of  Montbelliard,  capital  city  of  an  arondissement  in  the  French 
department  of  Doubs,  on  the  Rhine-Rhone  canal,  near  the  railroad 
from  Miilhausen  to  Lyons.  It  belonged  from  1395-1793  to  the  house 
of  Wurtemburg,  was  taken  by  the  French  in  1793,  formally  ceded  to 
France  in  the  peace  of  Luneville,  in  1801,  and  reunited  to  Germany  at 
the  close  of  the  late  Franco-Prussian  war." 


THE    FRENCH    AND   ACADIA NS. 


207 


petitions  to  the  authorities  [obngkeit),  but,  alas!  we 
were  put  off  with  empty  promises,  and  all  our  good 
intentions  were  frustrated. " 

The  missionary  to  the  French  settlers  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Established  Church  was  the  Rev.  Jean 
Baptiste  Morreau.  He  had  been  a  Roman  Catholic 
priest  and  prior  of  the  Abuey  of  St.  Matthew  at 
Brest,  but  was  received  into  the  Church  of  England, 
and  came  as  a  member  of  that  body  to  Halifax  in 
(harge  of  the  French  and  Swiss  Protestant  settlers, 
Mnd  received  the  usual  grant  of  £'jo  a  year  for  his  ser- 
/ices.  He  was  the  father  of  the  first  white  male  child 
born  in  the  city  of  Halifax.  This  baby  boy  was 
named  in  honor  of  the  governor,  Cornwallis,  and  ac- 
companied his  father  to  Lunenburg  in  1753.  Mr. 
Morreau  died  in  Lunenburg  in  1770.  He  was  an 
accomplished  man,  being  able  to  minister  in  three 
languages,  and  even  becoming  acquainted  with  the 
language  of  the  Indians,  several  of  whose  children  he 
baptized.  That  he  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  firm- 
ness and  personal  influence,  is  shown  by  the  following 
episode,  which  occurred  during  his  pastorate  at  Lun- 
enburg. One  of  the  leaders  of  his  congregation 
having  been  detected  in  a  treasonable  conspiracy 
against  the  government,  Mr.  Morreau,  in  spite  of  the 
offender's  rank  and  station,  publicly  excommunicated 


''[■■-: 


i    ,) 

!'  ■ 


:if 


:.!! 


1 


^'0 


;  ( 


)i 


I ' 


•  1 


■i  [\  A 


■J 


m 


i 


ii 


f 

i 

*'i) 


t! 


''",  i 


I'l 


i 


'h, 


mi 


ilijt 

I      '  6 


f  ' 

\< 

;  ' 

•!  -4                       1=1 

"f 

; 

■  ? 

(If 

i 

i 

li  i 

i 

Li.:i,..  .f 

208 


ACADIE   AM)   THE   ACADIAXS. 


him.  After  a  time,  the  offender  being  desirous  of  re- 
admission  to  his  lost  privileges,  humbly  prostrated 
Iiimsclf  in  the  church  ;  then  rose  and  asked  pardon  of 
God,  the  king,  and  Christian  brethren  whom  he  had 
offended  by  his  ill  conduct  and  disobedience.  He 
then  received  an  exhortation  from  the  pulpit  to  a  sin- 
cere repentance  and  amendment,  and  was  afterward 
admitted  to  communion. 

The  French  element  is  still  plainly  noticeable  in  the 
town  of  Lunenburg  and  the  surrounding  country. 
The  names  have  suffered  changes  and  distortions 
which  in  many  cases  make  identification  with  their 
originals  difficult — as  for  example.  Dares  has  become 
Dory,  Dumont  has  been  changed  to  Demon,  Le 
Boutillier  to  Butler,  and  so  on,  but  the  genuine  Gallic 
type  of  man  and  maid  is  found  among  the  inhabitants, 
with  feature,  form  and  movement  identical  with  those 
of  the  pure-blooded  citizen  of  Paris  or  Marseilles. 
There  are  descendants  of  the  Baron  Longueiuel,  form- 
erly of  Montreal  and  later  of  La  Have,  now  a  numer- 
ous family  in  and  about  Lunenburg,  spelling  the  name 
Langille;  the  most  of  them  are  decidedly  French. 
There  are  the  original  Joudries  spelling  their  name 
Jodry  or  Jodrey,  Wilneuf  has  been  changed  to  Wool- 
nough,  Emeneau  to  Emeno,  and  Contois  has  been 
Anglicized  to  Countaway.     Many  other  French  names 


THE   FKliNCll    AND   ACADIANS. 


209 


are  cotmnon,  as  Robar,  Gilfo)-,  Pcrncttc,  and  Dcs 
lirisay,  while  another  chi:;s  like  Barrie,  Fancie,  Haillic, 
and  Sartie,  may  probably  be  of  the  same  nationality. 

Many  of  these  descendants  of  the  French  immi- 
grants are  yet  in  connection  with  the  Church  of  the 
Augsburi;-  Confession,  that  is  the  Lutheran  Church. 

In  the  \ery  early  history  of  the  settlement  we  find 
references  to  Paul  Laurent,  chief  of  the  Indians  on  the 
La  Have,  who  was  in  all  probability  a  half-breed 
French-Indian.  The  missionary  who  officiated  amon<j 
the  Micmacs  about  Lunenburg  under  the  control  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church,  was  M.  Maillard,  another 
Frenchman.  Later,  M.  Jean  Perin  was  a  maker  of 
wooden  shoes  or  sabots  for  the  inhabitants.  Old 
French  drains  and  cellars  have  been  uncovered  at 
various  places  in  the  town.  And  the  old  French  cem- 
etery by  the  seaside,  within  the  corporation  limits,  still 
remains  as  a  mute  witness  of  the  departed  and  depart- 
ing people  of  that  enterprising  race. 

These  remarks  concerning  the  people  of  this  nation- 
ality in  the  settlement,  have  been  set  in  order  here  for 
the  satisfaction  of  their  descendants,  and  because  in- 
quiry has  been  made  from  widely  divergent  places  by 
persons  seeking  any  possible  clue  to  their  ancestry. 
It  should  yet  be  stated  that  many  family  names  once 

appearing  upon  the  cluirch  records  and  other  ancient 
14 


^1 


'■  r, 


.,  i,< 


^■iPm 


vi 


: .  . :   1    i 

r,:   i     '  ,  f 


\>\ 


210 


ACADIE   AND    THE   ACAUIANS. 


.  i 
Mi 


s|! 


i: 


il 


docutucnts  of  the  town  have  entirely  disappeared.  Of 
these  some  have  died  out  absolutely,  others  have  been 
lost  to  the  place  by  their  bearers  removing  to  other 
localities,  and  there  is  yet  another  class  which  has 
been  swallowed  up  by  admixture  with  the  native 
American  Indians,  a  kind  of  miscegenation  to  which 
the  French  people,  in  every  latitude  and  under  the 
common  circumstances  attendant  upon  frontier  life  in 
all  parts  of  the  hemisphere,  whether  in  the  south,  the 
east,  or  the  northwest,  appear  to  have  been  particu- 
larly inclined. 

These  Frenchmen  all  were  Acadians,  in  the  ordinary 
and  legitimate  sense  of  the  wora ;  but  by  reason  of  an 
event  which  now  transpired  in  the  western  part  of  the 
Province,  the  name  has  been  restricted  to  a  different 
body  of  Frenchmen.  One  little  circumstance  alone 
connects  those  Acadians,  as  to  their  history,  with  the 
Lunenburg  settlers.  But  as  a  matter  of  interest,  upon 
which  much  has  been  written  and  said,  it  will  not  be 
out  of  place  to  devote  the  remainder  of  this  chapter, 
begun  about  the  French,  to  the  history  of  those  who 
were  deported  from  their  homes. 

The  author  of  a  recent  Roman  Catholic  history  of 
the  United  States  *  says,  "  Of  all  the  plan  of  Braddock, 

* "  The  Story  of  a  Great  Nation ;  or,  Our  Country's  Achievements, 
by  John  Gilmary  Shea,  LL.  D.,"  pp.  347-8. 


THE    FRENCH    AND    ACADIANS. 


211 


but  one  part  had  succeeded,  and  that  was  one  of  the 
greatest  crimes  in  American  histor)-;  this  was  the 
seizure  of  the  Acadians."  Braddock  had  about  as 
much  to  do  with  their  removal  as  the  man  in  the 
moon.  It  is  well  known  that  these  people,  from  the 
conclusion  of  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht,  in  171 3,  enjoyed 
all  the  privileges  of  British  subjects,  held  their  lands 
without  being  subjected  to  any  direct  tax,  had  never 
been  called  upon  to  fight  for  the  power  that  protected 
them,  and  were  asked  only  to  take  an  oath  not  to  take 
up  arms  against  it.  But  they  made  a  very  ungrateful 
return  for  this  kindness.  As  has  been  shown,  they 
traded  with  the  French  at  Louisbourg  and  Quebec, 
carrying  their  produce  thither  and  refusing  supplies  to 
the  British  garrison  at  Annapolis  when  it  was  in  dis- 
tress for  provisions,  furnished  information  to  the 
enemy,  paid  rents  for  their  lands  to  the  lords  of 
manors  in  Cape  Breton,  although  refusing  to  remove 
thither  when  invited  by  the  French  Government  to  do 
so ;  and  even  took  up  arms  against  the  British  Govern- 
ment at  the  battle  of  Beausejour. 

For  almost  half  a  century  these  Acadians,  professing 
to  stand  as  neutrals,  had  been  held  as  a  reserve,  in 
constant  menace  to  British  interests,  by  the  hostile 
French  of  Upper  Canada.  They  had  full  religious 
liberty,  and  it  was  the  misuse  of  this,  or  the  trading 


'  .■  h 


I  • 


•  I 


j" 


Mi 


'I'm 


Mi.f 


li 


m 


\'i  i 


r 


212 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


I 


upon  the  religious  instinct  and  devotion  of  these  un- 
happy people,  that  brought  them  between  the  mill- 
stones of  Jesuit  intrigue  and  British  severity  and 
ground  them  to  powder. 

They  were  a  simple  peasantry,  ignorant,  industrious 
after  a  fashion,  and  economical  to  parsimony.  They 
had  lost  the  genuine  French  es/>ri^  and  love  of  adven- 
ture which  characterized  their  forefathers ;  they  did  a 
little  fishing,  taking  herring  in  Digby  basin,  and  hunt- 
ing a  little  on  the  mountain  sides  ;  but  their  chief  oc- 
cupation was  mowing  and  curing  the  wild  grass  which 
grew  on  the  natural  meadows  along  the  Annapolis 
river,  or  on  the  rich  marshes  reclaimed  from  the  Bay 
of  Fundy,  and  caring  for  the  cattle  to  which  they  fed 
the  hay  in  the  winter.  This  most  quiet  and  unevent- 
ful life  they  had  pursued  for  more  than  a  century. 

They  raised  flax  and  kept  sheep,  spun  and  wove 
materials  from  these  for  their  clothing.  Their  caps 
were  peaked  affairs  of  cloth,  bright  in  color  and  set  off 
with  a  tassel ;  their  shoes,  or  moccasins,  of  raw-hide  or 
moose  skin.  They  raised  considerable  quantities  of 
barley,  oats  and  potatoes,  and  their  orchards  furnished 
an  abundance  of  small  apples  of  excellent  flavor. 
Their  drink  was  cider  on  ordinary  occasions ;  for 
higher  festivals  they  brewed  spruce  beer,  and  for  the 
chiefest  of  all  celebrations  they  indulged  in  West  India 


THE   FRENCH    AND   ACADIANS. 


21 


rum.  Messieurs  Beauharnais  and  Hocquart,  in  a  let- 
ter from  which  an  extract  has  already  been  made, 
state  that  "the  Acadians  have  not  extended  their 
plantations  since  they  have  come  under  English  do- 
minion ;  their  houses  are  wretched  wooden  boxes, 
without  convenience  and  without  ornament,  and 
scarcely  contain  the  necessary  furniture." 

In  these  straw-roofed  houses  two  or  more  families 
lived  together,  and  their  mode  of  life,  though  simple 
and  unsophisticated,  was  by  no  means  distinguished  for 
cleanliness.  But  they  were  contented,  non-progress- 
ive and  undisturbed  by  the  strifes  and  contentions 
rolling  all  around  them.  They  married  early.  Chil- 
dren multiplied  and  the  population  grew  rapidly. 

They  were  much  given  to  petty  strifes,  quarrels 
about  boundaries  and  litigation  about  trifles.  Gossip- 
ing, jealousy,  backbiting  and  tale-bearing  were  the 
pastime  ot  their  monotonous  existence.  The  officials 
of  the  British  government  looked  with  complaccny 
upon  the  continual  wranglings  over  boundary  lines, 
regarding  them  as  good  evidence  of  the  value  which 
the  people  set  upon  their  possessions.  Among  thciii 
were  a  few  violent  persons  who  dared  at  times  to 
resist  even  the  supreme  authority  of  the  priest,  who 
was,  in  fact,  the  ruler,  both  temporal  and  .spiritual,  of 
his  submissive  flock. 


;•  >'.\ 

i 

\  i 

si 

;,;i;«H! 

■:       .-.H 

liii 

i«i 

■'       U 

■nj 

iH 

ifl 

< 

■ 

^  'i'. 

)!i 


^i 


'k 


»'■ 


I      f!l 


It 


!!    W 


'41 


tr 


ii 


A 


?!  ■ 


MHi 


■  n 


214 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


These  priests  were  the  bane  and  curse  and  final 
ruin  of  the  Acadians.  We  are  told  that  subjection  to 
the  pope  does  not  conflict  with  allegiance  to  any- 
alien  power  opposed  to  his  temporal  authority.  Let 
history  speak  on  this.  Here  were  these  simple  peo- 
ple used  as  the  tools  of  Rome.  Kept  in  subjection 
for  so  long  that  their  enfeeblement  had  become  hered- 
itary, they  hung  upon  their  priest,  followed  his  coun- 
sel like  little  children,  and  depended  upon  him  for 
guidance  as  to  the  affairs  both  of  this  world  and  the 
next.  They  were  in  subjection  to  him,  held  by  the 
twin  emotions  of  love  and  fear,  with  a  deference  that 
was  almost  slavish.  They  did  not  dare  to  disobey  him. 
He  was  their  true  authority  and  real  government. 
And  whither  did  he  lead  them,  and  how  ? 

He  kept  them  in  stolid  ignorance,  for  "  is  not  ignor- 
ance the  mother  of  devotion  ?"  He  founded  their  faith 
upon  the  rites  of  the  Roman  Church,  taught  them  a 
little  about  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  much  about 
saints,  saints'  days,  and  the  Virgin  Mary ;  insisted  that 
they  should  be  faithful  in  attendance  at  mass  and  con- 
fesson,  and  diligent  in  the  use  of  the  rosary.  But  dan- 
gerous as  all  these  teachings  were  as  coming  between 
Christ  and  their  spiritual  welfare,  they  were  equaled 
in  their  destructiveness  by  the  instructions  which  were 
interposed  between  their  loyalty  and  their  king.     He 


ii 


THE   FRENCH    AND   ACADtANS. 


2i; 


taught  them  to  hate  heresy  and  King  George,  to  be 
true  to  the  Roman  Church  and  King  Louis  of  France. 
The  priest  was  always  in  spiritual  matters  the  agent 
of  the  pope  through  the  Bishop  of  Quebec;  in  tem- 
poral things  of  King  Louis  through  the  Governor  of 
Canada.     And  this  is  what  wrought  their  ruin. 

The  settlements  of  the  British  through  all  the  early 
occupation  of  the  Acadians,  were  few  and  weak  until 
the  founding  of  Halifax.  Up  to  this  time  the  priests 
ruled  the  Acadian  people.  They  had  their  chief  cen- 
tres of  population  along  the  Annapolis  river,  at  Grand 
Pre,  Cobequid,  Piziquid  and  around  the  Basin  of 
Minas.  After  the  country  was  finally  ceded  to  Eng- 
land, the  British  authorities  required  of  the  Acadians 
that  they  should  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
new  sovereign,  which  the  authorities  had  a  perfect 
right  to  demand,  and  to  which  it  was  but  right  that  the 
subject  should  submit.  After  a  delay  of  many  years, 
the  oath  was  at  last  taken,  but,  as  they  alleged,  with  a 
reservation  that  they  should  never  be  forced  to  take  up 
arms  against  their  former  countrymen,  the  French. 

'*  When  the  war  broke  out  in  1745,"  says  an  emi- 
nent American  authority,  who  has  made  a  study  of 
their  case,*  "  many  of  them  broke  their  oath,  and  some- 
times openly,  sometimes  in  the  disguise  of  Indians, 

*  Dr.  Francis  Parkman. 


•7\ 


'!'  :• 


^1 


>ti^ 


m 


'^!   i 


iij 


!|.., 


!  ■  :  H 


-ik 


:.n 


i'i't 


TTtt 


2l6 


ACAt)lE  AND  THE  ACADiANS. 


'1 


•n.'i: 


i\U' 


rilJ 


m 


joined  the  French  in  attacks  on  British  garrisons — 
while  others  acted  as  spies,  or  aided  the  enemy  with 
information  and  provisions.  When,  in  1748,  the  war 
ended,  the  French  officials  prophesied  some  signal  act 
of  vengeance  on  the  part  of  the  British  against  the  of- 
fending Acadians.  On  the  contrary,  they  showed 
great  forbearance,  and  insisted  only  that  all  the  adult 
male  population  should  take  an  oath  of  allegiance, 
without  any  reserve  or  restriction  whatever.  This 
they  would  have  done  if  they  had  been  let  alone;  but 
they  were  not  let  alone.  Another  war  was  plainly  at 
hand,  and  France  meditated  the  reconquest  of  Acadia. 
To  this  end  the  Acadians  must  be  kept  French  at 
heart,  and  ready,  at  a  signal  given,  to  rise  against  the 
English.  France  had  acknowledged  them  as  British 
subjects;  but  this  did  not  prevent  the  agents  of  Louis 
XV.  from  seeking  by  incessant  intrigue  to  stir  them  into 
bitter  hostility  against  the  British  Government.  Be- 
fore me  are  two  large  volumes  of  papers,  about  a 
thousand  pages  in  all,  copied  from  the  archives  of  the 
Colonial  Department  at  Paris.  They  relate  to  these 
French  efforts  to  rouse  the  Acadians  to  revolt ;  and 
they  consist  of  the  journals,  despatches,  reports  and 
letters  of  officers,  military,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  from 
the  Governor  of  Canada  to  a  captain  of  bushrangers, 
and  from  the  Bishop  of  Quebec  to  the  cure  of  Cobe- 


!i:         I   I 


THE  FRENCH  AND  ACADIANS. 


217 


quid.  They  show  by  the  evidence  of  the  actors  them- 
selves, the  scope  and  methods  of  the  machination,  to 
which  the  king  himself  appears,  in  his  languid  way,  as 
an  accessory.  The  priests  of  Acadia  were  the  chief 
agents  employed.  They  taught  their  parishioners  that 
fidelity  to  King  Louis  was  inseparable  from  fidelity  to 
God,  and  that  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  British  crown 
would  be  eternal  perdition.  Forerriost  among  these 
apostles  of  revolt  was  Le  Loutre,  niissionarj^  to  the 
Micmac  Indians,  and  Vicar-General  for  Acadia  under 
the  Bishop  of  Quebec.  His  fanatical  hatred  of  the 
English  and  the  natural  violence  of  his  character  im- 
pelled him  to  extremes  which  alarmed  his  employers, 
and  drew  upon  him  frequent  exhortations  to  caution. 
He  threatened  the  Acadians  with  excommunication  if 
they  obeyed  the  King  of  England.  In  connection  with 
French  officers  across  the  line,  he  encouraged  them  to 
put  on  the  disguise  of  Indians  and  join  his  Micmacs 
in  pillaging  and  killing  English  settlers  on  the  out- 
skirts of  Halifax  when  the  two  nations  were  at  peace. 
He  drew  on  one  occasion  from  a  French  official  1,800 
livres  to  pay  his  Indians  for  English  scalps.  With  a 
reckless  disregard  of  the  welfare  of  the  unhappy  peo- 
ple under  his  charge,  he  spared  no  means  to  embroil 
them  with  the  government  under  which,  but  for  him 
and  his  fellow- conspirators,  they  would  have  lived  in 


M^ 


Uy:\\ 


*':  tiJ 


1-1 


4     ♦ 


'If 


2l8 


ACAtMK   AND  THE   ACAWANS. 


V. 


11^ 


|,i     ill  ! 


|lli)| 


iiN 


peace  and  contentment.  An  entire  heartlessness  marked 
the  dealings  of  the  French  authorities  with  the  Aca- 
(iians  Tliey  were  treated  as  mere  tools  of  policy,  to 
be  used,  broken,  and  flung  away." 

And  if  the  verdict  of  history,  thus  impartially  given, 
or  as  summed  up  by  Bancroft  in  the  tearful  words : 
"  I  know  not  if  the  annals  of  the  human  race  keep  the 
record  of  sorrows  so  wantonly  inflicted,  so  bitter,  and 
so  perennial  as  fell  upon  the  French  inhabitants  of 
Acadia,"  be  true,  what  execrations  can  sufficiently 
anathematize  the  authors  of  their  misery  i  Priest  and 
soldier  are  alike  to  blame. 

And  on  a  larger  scale,  if  the  signs  of  the  times  be 
not  deceiving,  the  emissiaries  of  Rome  are  preparing 
the  Frenchmen  of  Quebec  for  some  similar  resistance 
to  British  power,  to  be  followed  by  some  like  fearful 
retribution.  Since  Cardinal  Taschereau  has  enthroned 
himself  in  Parliament  as  a  Prince  of  the  Church,  on 
an  equality  with  the  representative  of  the  C.own,  and 
since  that  subservient  body  has  given  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars  from  the  public  treasury  to  the 
Jesuits,  what  can  follow  but  stern  reprisal,  TuU  of  sor- 
row to  the  people  of  the  Roman  faith  ?  History  may 
speedily  repeat  itself  in  some  sense  by  bringing  pun- 
ishment for  this  madness  upon  the  priests  who  mis- 
lead and  the  people  whom  they  betray. 


THE    FRENCH    AND   ACADIANS. 


219 


The  manner  of  the  deportation  of  the  Acadians  may 
be  remarked  upon.  It  was  cruel  and  unnatural.  It 
can  be  justified  only  under  the  plea  of  military  neces- 
sity. On  the  third  of  July,  1755,  a  memorable  council 
was  convened  at  the  house  of  Governor  Lawrence,  in 
Halifax.  Jonathan  Belcher,  Benj.  Green,  Wm.  Cot- 
terell  and  John  Collins,  members  of  the  Legislative 
Council,  were  in  attendance.  Bold  Englishmen  these 
were,  upon  whom  devolved  the  grave  responsiblity  of 
the  public  welfare  in  the  Province,  and  deeply  sensible 
of  their  trust. 

Before  the  Council  were  summoned  the  commis- 
sioners from  the  French  inhabitants  of  Minas  and 
Piziquid;  little  swarthy  men,  with  fierce  moustaches 
and  keen  black  eyes,  likewise  deeply  sensible  of  their 
own  responsibility  as  spokesmen  for  their  people.  The 
memorial  which  they  had  brought  was  read  before 
them.  Its  terms  were  rejected,  its  spirit  impugned, 
and  the  whole  document  assailed  and  denounced  as 
absurd  and  treasonable.  Particular  dissatisfaction  was 
expressed  with  one  manly  passage  which  said,  refer- 
ring to  the  order  which  had  been  issued  that  the 
Frenchmen  should  give  up  their  arms,  "  It  is  not  the 
gun  which  an  inhabitant  possesses  that  will  induce 
him  to  revolt,  nor  the  privation  of  the  same  that  will 
make  him  more  faithful,  but  his  conscience  alone  must 
induce  him  to  maintain  his  oath." 


ui 


It 


''H^i*| 


'  I 


11 


"% 


1  '.      I 


WJ 


220 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


The  commissioners  were  then  asked  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance  without  reservation.  This  they  re- 
fused, on  the  ground  that  under  its  terms  they  would 
be  liable  in  the  event  of  war  to  a  call  to  take  up  arms 
against  the  French,  their  countrymen.  For  this  faith- 
fulness to  nationality  above  duty,  to  France  above 
Britain,  they  were  placed  in  confinement. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  July  another  convention  of 
Council  was  called.  Vice-Admiral  Boscawen  and 
Rear-Admiral  Mostyn  were  present.  This  was  the 
court  of  final  jurisdiction.  This  court  approved  the 
actions  of  former  councils,  and  determined  that  the 
time  had  arrived  when  the  French  Acadians  must 
take  the  oath  or  leave  the  country.  To  the  Lords  of 
Trade  Governor  Lawrence  wrote,  reporting  this  de- 
cision and  declaring  his  purpose  to  bring  the  habitans 
to  compliance,  or  rid  the  province  of  such  perfidious 
subjects. 

Further  correspondence  was  held  with  the  Acadians 
to  induce  them  to  take  the  oath.  Other  commission- 
ers appeared  with  other  memorials,  announcing  to  the 
Council  the  unanimous  resolution  of  the  people  to  de- 
cline taking  any  oath  of  allegiance  to  Britain  which 
did  not  expressly  provide  for  their  exemption  from 
bearing  arms.  On  the  28th  of  July,  these  commission- 
ers all  were  brought  before  the  Council,  finally  refused, 


lans 
sion- 
the 
3  de- 
hich 
from 
sion- 
used, 


THE  FRENCH  AND  ACADIANS. 


221 


for  themselves  and  their  constituents,  to  take  the  oath, 
and  were  thrown  into  prison.  At  this  meeting  the 
supreme  decision  was  reached  to  send  the  French  in- 
habitants to  the  Colonies  and  Provinces,  scattering 
them  from  Massachusetts  to  Florida,  around  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  and  up  the  Mississippi.  Instructions  were 
sent  to  Colonel  Monckton,  commanding  at  Fort 
Beausejour,  to  Colonel  VVinslow,  at  Minas,  and  to 
Major  Handfield,  at  Annapolis,  informing  them  of  the 
resolution  of  Council,  and  asking  that  they  hold  them- 
selves in  readiness  to  carry  it  into  effect  in  their  re- 
spective parts  of  the  Province.  Transports  were 
engaged  at  Boston,  and  all  possible  expedition  was 
used  to  get  together  vessels  sufficient  for  the  purpose. 
The  Governor  issued  a  circular  letter  to  the  Governors 
of  Connecticut,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  North  Caro- 
lina, Maryland  and  Virginia,  stating  the  reasons  for 
the  deportation  of  the  people,  and  expressing  the  hope 
that  they  would  dispose  of  them  in  such  a  manner  as 
best  to  prevent  their  re-union.  In  the  instructions  to 
the  post  commanders  they  were  ordered,  if  peaceful 
means  failed  to  induce  the  inhabitants  to  leave,  to 
adopt  the  most  vigorous  measures,  not  only  in  com- 
pelling them  to  embark,  but  also  in  depriving  them, 
should  any  escape,  of  all  refuge,  shelter  or  support,  by 
burning    their    houses,    and    destroying    everything 


1 

' 

' 

'k 

; 
1 

,1* 

ii'il! 

.'* 


!•     ii 


;^i' 


1 1. 


,  I 


')'>') 


i! 


i    ij*«! 


M 


.1(1 


^i.i; 


1 1 


!"!!   WW 


i   P 


ACAUIE    AND    THE    ACAUIANS. 


which    might   furnish    means   of    subsistence   in   the 
country. 

The  thunderbolt  was  well  prepared.  The  muskets 
of  the  soldiers  were  glittering  in  the  summer  sunshine 
at  Beausejour,  Minas  and  Annapolis.  Favorable 
breezes  brought  the  chartered  vessels  peacefully  to- 
ward their  appointed  places  of  rendezvous.  The  busy 
life  of  the  Acadian  villagers  and  farmers  was  running 
along  in  its  accustomed  uneventful  course.  The 
wide,  level  meadows,  with  their  diked  boundaries,  had 
been  mowed,  the  hay  had  already  been  cured,  the  flax 
bleached  and  housed,  the  orchards  laden  with  their 
fragrant  harvests  bent  their  boughs  to  the  eager  hand 
of  the  picker;  j:  ,*ace,  plenty,  happiness  and  joyful 
contentm.cnt  reigned  over  all  the  beautiful  and  se- 
cluded valley.  The  one  sinister  ray  of  light  that  fell 
upon  it  was  the  gleam  of  the  bayonets  in  the  hands 
of  the  soldiers.  The  harvest  was  about  completed. 
The  barns  were  full.  The  golden  season  of  early 
autumn,  which  in  that  country  is  like  Paradise,  had 
just  begun,  when  on  these  thousands  of  peaceful 
homes,  with  all  their  happy  hearts  and  humble  lives, 
the  thunderbolt  fell. 

No  intimation  had  been  given  the  people  of  the  in- 
tentions of  the  authorities.  They  were  as  utterly  un- 
prepared for  the  great  catastrophe  as  they  would  have 


THE  FRENCH  AND  ACADIANS. 


223 


been  for  an  earthquake  or  a  stroke  of  lightninjj.  The 
manner  in  which  the  stroke  fell  and  was  received  in 
all  the  villages  was  similar  to  that  at  Grand  Pre.  To 
the  inhabitants  of  that  and  surrounding  districts, 
Colonel  Winslow,  on  the  second  of  September,  issued 
an  order  that  they  should  assemble  in  the  church  at 
the  ringing  of  the  bell  and  the  beat  of  the  drum,  to 
hear  the  instructions  of  his  Majesty,  the  King  of 
Great  Britain.  With  no  thought  of  the  impending 
calamity,  the  people  came.  The  white  Normandy 
caps  of  the  women  mingled  with  the  gray  homespun 
of  the  men  as  they  came  to  the  church.  But  only 
the  men  were  allowed  inside.  The  women  waited 
in  the  church-yard.  It  was  to  all  a  holiday.  As- 
sembled in  orderly  array  in  their  church,  made  holy 
not  only  by  its  solemn  consecration,  but  by  all  the 
holy  memories  of  almost  fifty  years  which  clustered 
round  its  .sacred  precincts,  Winslow  addressed  the 
men  in  these  words: 

''Gentlemen:  1  have  received  from  his  Excellency, 
Governor  Lawrence,  the  King's  commission,  which  I 
hold  in  my  hand;  and  by  his  orders  you  are  convened 
together,  to  manifest  to  you  his  Majesty's  final  resolu- 
tion to  the  French  inhabitants  of  this,  his  Province  of 
Nova  Scotia,  who,  for  almost  half  a  century,  have  had 
more  indulgence  granted  to  them  than  any  of  his  Ma- 


'H 


fS 


\ 

iipi 


,'.<i 


i"  A 


*!' 


.* 


H 


■S    If    ' 


^    • 


■ii'l 


"I-    ;: 


'-if 

1 1: 


224 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


J   I! 


!:,  ^:\ 


'J; 


jesty's  subjects,  in  any  part  of  his  dominions;  what 
ust*  you  have  made  of  it,  you  yourselves  best  know. 
The  path  of  duty  I  am  now  upon,  though  necessary, 
is  very  disagreeable  to  my  natural  make  and  temper, 
as  I  know  it  must  be  grievous  to  you,  who  are  of  the 
same  species;  but  it  is  not  my  business  to  animadvert, 
but  to  obey  such  orders  as  I  receive,  and,  therefore, 
without  hesitation,  delive*"  to  you  his  Majesty's  orders 
and  instructions,  namely,  that  your  land  and  tene- 
ments, cattle  of  all  kinds  and  live  stock  of  all  sorts, 
are  forfeited  to  the  Crown,  with  all  your  other  effects, 
saving  your  money  and  household  goods,  and  you 
yourselves  to  be  removed  from  this  his  province. 
Thus,  it  is  peremptorily  his  Majesty's  orders  that  the 
whole  French  inhabitants  of  these  districts  be  re- 
moved; and  I  am,  through  his  Majesty's  goodness, 
directed  to  allow  you  liberty  to  carry  off  your  money 
and  household  goods,  as  many  as  you  can  without 
discommoding  the  vessels  you  go  in.  I  shall  do 
everything  in  my  power  that  all  these  goods  be  se- 
cured to  you,  and  that  you  are  not  molested  in  carry- 
ing them  off;  also,  that  whole  families  shall  go  in  the 
same  vessels,  and  make  this  remove,  which  I  am  sen- 
sible must  give  you  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  as  easy  as 
his  Majesty's  service  will  admit;  and  hope  that  in 
whatsoever  part  of  the  world  you  may  fall,  you  may 


THE    FKKNCH    AM)    ACAUIANS. 


22  ^ 


be  faithful  subjects — a  peaceable  and  happy  people. 
I  must  also  inform  you  that  it  is  his  Majesty's  pleas- 
ure that  you  remain  in  security  under  the  inspection 
and  direction  of  the  troops  that  I  have  the  honor  to 
command." 

The  thunderbolt  had  fallen.  They  were  prisoners. 
The  soldiers  with  glittering  muskets  surrounded  the 
church.  For  this  its  bell  had  summoned  them.  For 
this  the  rattle  of  the  drum  had  echoed  over  their  ver- 
dant meadows,  to  gather  them  to  their  doom. 

"  As  when  the  air  is  serene  in  the  sultry  solstice  of  summer, 
Suddenly  gathers  a  storm,  and  the  deadly  sling  oi  the  hailstones 
Beats  down  the  farmer's  corn  in  the  field,  and  shatters  the  windows. 
Hiding  the  sun,  and  strewing  the  ground  with  thatch  from  the  house- 
roofs  ; 
Bellowing  fly  the  herds,  and  seek  to  break  their  enclosures: 
So  on  the  hearts  of  the  people  descended  the  words  of  the  speaker. 
Silent  a  moment  they  stood  in  speechless  wonder,  and  then  rose 
Louder  and  ever  louder  a  wail  of  sorrow  and  anger. 
And  by  one  impulse  moved,  they  madly  rushed  to  the  doorway. 
Vain  was  the  hope  of  escape,  and  cries  and  fierce  imprecations 
Rang  through  the  house  of  prayer." 

No  language  can  describe  the  feelings  of  the  miser- 
able people.  They  could  not  for  a  time  realize  their 
hard  fate,  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  had  it  been 
developed;  but  finally  they  awoke  to  their  situation. 
Anger  succeeded  apathy,  and  apathy  was  followed  by 
«5 


«  '  I.;  ^R 


■  r  t! 


:i! 


,    i 


I'!. 


1  i 

■  r 

i 

• !    \:i 

■  f 

■  \\  1  ■ 

'   !,! 

• 

i 

b. ; 


;l: 


1    ' 

I    i  I 


\  1  ■.-'■ 


nr 


j:  1, 


i  ■  ;t 


m 

i;M 


i.  li 


M 


226 


ACADIE   AND    THE   ACAUIANS. 


resignation,  but  it  was  the  resignation  of  despair. 
Some,  who  had  not  heeded  the  summons  to  the 
church,  escaped  to  the  woods,  but  only  to  behold 
from  their  covert  the  smoke  rising  from  their  burning 
homes.  On  the  tenth  of  September  all  who  had  been 
seized  were  driven  aboard  the  transports  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet  and  embarked  for  their  unknown 
destination.  Then  they  broke  down.  Nature  could 
not  endure  the  strain.  Their  feelings  found  vent  in 
tears,  and  in  weeping,  cries  and  lamentations  loud  and 
long. 

At  Cumberland  and  Annapolis  the  inhabitants  fled 
from  their  homes,  and  hid  in  the  woods.  The  soldiers 
detailed  to  burn  the  houses  and  destroy  the  harvests 
met  with  opposition ;  but  it  was  unorganized  and  inef- 
fectual. A  body  of  French  and  Indians  attacked  them, 
killed  half  a  dozen,  and  wounded  several  others.  But 
resistance  was  useless.  They  were  forced  to  submit 
to  stern  necessity.  The  unhappy  captives  were  carried 
to  the  various  ports  along  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  shore. 
Some  were  disembarked  here  and  others  there — scat- 
tered, ?,  i^parated  and  abandoned  in  the  various  colonies 
wherein  their  language  was  unknown,  their  religion 
deemed  heresy,  themselves  a  burden  on  the  com- 
munity, and  altogether  unwelcome. 

One  of  the  transports  carrying  thirty-six  families 


THE  PUENXtt    ANln   ACADTAN?. 


227 


from  Annapolis,  was  seized  by  the  French  on  board 
and  sailed  into  the  river  St.  John,  whence  the  refugees 
escaped  into  New  Brunswick  and  made  their  way  back- 
to  Nova  Scotia.  Another  through  stress  of  weather 
was  driven  to  the  West  Indies,  where  her  passengers 
were  disembarked.  The  total  number  deported  has 
ever  been  a  question  of  dispute.  The  Abbe  Raynal, 
who  magnified  the  prosperity  and  possessions  of  the 
Acadians  to  the  utmost  degree,  has  .stated  that  there 
were  in  Annapolis  twelve  or  thirteen  hundred,  and 
that  the  entire  French  population  was  eighteen  thou- 
sand. He  says  they  had  on  their  "immense  meadows 
sixty  thousand  cattle."  Murdoch  gives  the  number 
of  cattle  at  the  time  of  the  removal  at  seven  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-three.  And  Governor  Law- 
rence, when  the  order  was  issued  for  their  deportatio:i, 
in  the  circular  letter  to  the  other  Governors,  says  of 
the  people:  "Their  number  amounts  to  near  seven 
thousand  persons."  This  latter  statement  seems  to  me 
to  be  correct  and  conclusive. 

Their  later  history  is  involved  in  the  shadows  of 
oblivion  and  lighted  by  the  torch  of  imagination. 
Their  descendants  may  still  be  found  where  their  un- 
fortunate ancestors  were  landed.  The  best  portrayal 
of  their  fate  is  that  which  the  pen  of  Longfellow  has 
wrought  in  the  exquisite  poem  called  after  one  of  the 


.  It 


Hi  -,  H 


I    I 


t     )' 


Wi 


,^-li 


! 


!.;;  i 


!l|i 


ii  iii 


^'il 


t'S 


228 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIAN?. 


victims,  "  Evangeline."  As  to  the  culpability  of  the 
act  itself,  the  manner  of  its  execution,  and  the  actual 
necessity  which  constrained  those  who  were  its  re- 
sponsible authors,  I  have  naught  but  this  to  say. 
The  reader,  from  the  facts  presented,  can  make  up  his 
opinion  for  himself  The  act  itself  stands  there,  boldly 
outlined  on  the  canvas  of  hi.story,  sombre,  dark  and 
dreadful,  without  a  parallel  in  the  annals  of  North 
American  peoples — a  crime  against  humanity. 


'!    M 


m 


m 

ill 


CHAPTER   XVII. 


•   -!|*'i   I 


THE  ACADIANS-CONTINUED. 

A  SLIGHT  link  in  the  long-drawn  chain  of  cir- 
cumstance connecting  the  people  of  Lunenburii 
with  the  memory  of  their  neighbors,  the  unfortunate 
Acadians,  is  mentioned  by  our  truthful  annalist, 
Andreas  Jung.  He  was  himself  one  of  the  party  that 
made  the  long  and  toilsome  march  through  trackless 
forest  and  almost  impenetrable  morass  to  their  desolate 
homes.  In  the  year  1756  a  party  of  fifty  men  under 
Captain  Steignford  went  from  Mush-a-Mush  to  the 
Basin  of  Minas,  where  they  gathered  up  one  hundred 
and  twenty  head  of  cattle  and  a  number  of  horses,  part 
of  the  confiscated  property  of  the  French  Acadians. 
They  reached  Lunenburg  with  only  sixty  cattle,  the 
remainder  having  perished  by  the  way.  An  old  doc- 
ument giving  the  names  of  all  who  took  part  in  the 
expedition,  reads  thus :  "  This  people  have  been  to 
Minas,  what  went  there  from  this  town,  1756,  the  30 
day  of  July,  and  returned  the  3  day  of  Sept.,  and 
brought  about  60  odd  head  of  cattle,  beside  horses 
hurlong  with ;  the  which  cattle  was  the  next  day  even 

divided  under  the  said  people,  and  did  draw  for  the 

(229) 


U\4 


4' 
11 '  I 


«,  7" 


■'Hifi. 


'!  !  ; 


230 


ACADIF.   AND   'I  UK    ACAntAXS. 


same  in  the  gaol  yard  in  the  Presence  of  the  Com- 
manding officer  and  other  Gentlemen  iisefuU  thereto." 
A  little  more  history,  of  a  more  cheerful  nature, 
respecting  these  people,  will  not  be  taken  amiss  in  this 
connection.  Principal  Cameron,  of  Yarmouth,  from 
whom  I  condense  the  subjoined  facts,  is  my  authorit)-. 
lie  says:  Of  the  Acadian  settlements  in  Yarmouth 
county  the  most  easterly  is  Pubnico.  A  marriage  was 
celebrated  there  a  few  days  ago.  The  bride  was  Marie 
Rose  D'Entremont,  the  groom  was  Henri  Leondee 
D'Entremont ;  and  half  a  dozen  of  the  principal  aiders 
and  abettors  were  D'Entremonts.  How  many  more 
D'pjitremonts  ate,  drank  and  danced  in  honor  of  the 
happy  event  I  cannot  tell  ;  but,  as  there  are  over  four 
hundred  of  them  in  the  settlement,  the  number  prob- 
ably was  large.  One  hundred  and  eighty  years  ago — 
and  that  is  a  long  step  backward  in  the  history  of 
Nova  Scotia — nearly  fifty  years  before  the  British 
came  over  to  found  Halifax — there  was  another  D'En- 
tremont marria^^e,  and  the  name  of  the  bride  was  also 
Marie.  But  the  course  of  true  love  did  not  run  so 
smoothly  with  the  Marie  of  1705  as  with  her  name- 
sake of  1885.  The  marriage  was  opposed  by  her  hus- 
band's family,  the  Du  Viviers,  and  by  his  superior 
officers — for  the  young  gentleman  was  attached  to  the 
garrison  at  Port  Royal.     The  commandant  of  the  port 


THE    ACAniANS— CONTINUED. 


231 


said  some  very  impolite  things  about  poor  Marie,  but 
she  got  married  in  spite  of  them  all,  thanks  to  the 
kind  offices  of  the  priests. 

Go  back  one  hundred  years  more,  and  Acadian  his- 
tory is  just  beginning.  Pontrincourt,  Lescarbot,  and 
the  other  well-born,  well-bred,  and  well-educated 
French  gentlemen  who  founded  the  first  permanent 
.settlement  in  the  northern  part  of  North  America, 
were  enjoying  the  good  things  provided  for  them  by 
the  Grand  Master  of  Le  Bon  Temps,  dining  on  fish, 
flesh  and  fowl,  washing  them  down  with  the  choicest 
of  French  wines,  and  then  spending  the  evening  in 
literary  conversation  and  in  the  composition  of  French 
and  Latin  verses.  Among  these  Knights  of  The  Good 
Time  who  so  pleasantly  passed  their  first  winters  at 
Port  Royal — though  not  one  of  those  who  came  out 
with  De  Monts  in  1604 — was  Claude  Turgis  St. 
Etienne  Sieur  de  La  Tour,  and  with  him,  very  likely, 
was  his  son  Charles,  then  a  boy  of  about  thirteen. 

Here  then  are  three  bits  of  social  life,  one  from  each 
of  the  three  centuries  of  Acadian  history ;  first,  the 
merry-making  of  La  Tour  and  his  companions  in 
1606;  second,  the  hasty  and  furtive  marriage  of  Marie 
D'Entremont  in  1705  ;  third,  the  bright  and  joyous 
marriage  of  Marie  and  Henri  D'Entremont  in  1885. 
The  connection   between  the  three  events,  for  they 


Mm 

■I  If 

Mr 


"ill 

"ii 


ir 


■m 


<  I 


/i 


'4 


!Ti  I 


1.' 


1      |;i: 


m 


f 

:\ 

• 

i 

t 

i 

1 
• 
„ 

■    : 

If! 

■    1 
1 

[iil, 

L,  ,1..      ,• 

232 


ACADIE    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


have  a  connection,  is  this  :  the  Marie  of  1705  was  the 
great-granddaughter  of  Claude  de  La  Tour,  and  the 
father  of  Marie  was  the  great-great-grandfather  of 
Henri's  grandfather.  Thus  the  hero  o{  Le  Bon  Temps 
at  Pubnico  on  the  loth  of  last  November,  is  a  direct 
descendant  of  one  of  the  heroes  of  Le  Bon  Temps  at 
Port  Royal  almost  three  hundred  years  ago.  The 
younger  La  Tour,  Charles,  brought  with  him  from 
France,  about  1650,  a  gentleman  of  Normandy,  who 
claimed  kinship  with  the  Bourbon  family,  and  whom 
Louis  XIV.  created  Sieur  de  D'Antremont.  To  him 
La  Tour  gave  the  siegneurie  of  Pubnico — then  called 
Poubomcoup — and  the  title  of  Baron. 

This  Philippe  D'Entremont,  Baron  of  Pubnico,  was 
the  first  of  the  Nova  Scotian  D'Pvntremonts.  He  had 
been  an  early  friend  o^  La  Tour,  and  on  coming  to  this 
country  was  made  his  major.  And  it  came  to  pass  in 
course  of  time  that  the  sons  of  D'Entremont  saw  the 
daughters  of  La  Tour  that  they  were  fair,  and  they 
took  them  wives  of  such  as  they  chose.  The  eldest 
son  Jacques  married  Anne  de  La  Tour.  One  of  their 
daughters  was  the  Marie  who  married  Du  Vivier. 
Their  son  Jacques  was  carried  to  Boston  at  the  time  of 
the  expulsion  of  the  Acadians,  and  it  is  from  his  son 
— who  returned  in  1767 — that  are  descended  all  the 
D'Entremonts  of  to-day,  whose  names  may  be  found 


m 


THE   ACADIANS — CONTINUED. 


233 


along  the  Pubnico  district  of  the  county  map  strewn 
"thick  as  autumnal  leaves  in  Vallombrosa."  In  tiie 
D'Entremonts,  then,  Yarmouth  county  possesses  four 
or  five  hundred  of  the  lineal  descendants  of  two  of  the 
bluest-blooded  of  the  French  gentlemen  who  figured 
in  the  early  history  of  the  province,  one  of  whom, 
Charles  La  Tour,  at  one  time  owned  nearly  the  whole 
province,  and  at  another  time  was  governor  of  it;  and 
the  other,  Philippe  D'Kntremont,  held  an  official  posi- 
tion second  only  to  that  of  governor,  and  whose  name 
appears  in  the  first  census  ever  taken  in  the  province 
as  one  of  the  only  two  with  an  "Esquire"  after  it. 
One  of  your  Colchester  correspondents  was  boasting 
not  long  ago  that  his  father,  his  grandfather  and  his 
great-grandfather  had  all  been  residents  of  that  county. 
Here  is  a  family  in  Yarmouth  county  whose  ancestors 
owned  and  occupied  the  district  they  now  live  in  a 
hundred  years  before  that  Colchester  man's  great- 
grandfather plucked  his  first  ma}'flower.  Great-grand- 
father, forsooth  !  if  you  wish  to  get  the  proper  term  for 
the  relationship  of  the  first  D'Entremont,  of  Pubnico, 
to  the  younger  D'Entremont  of  to-day,  you  will  have 
to  square  a  great-grandfather  and  then  add  a  couple 
of  **  greats  "  to  the  product.  That's  the  kind  of  a  most 
great-grand  patriarch  that  the  first  Baron  of  Poubom- 
coup  was.     There  is  no  Baron  of  Pubnico  now,  but  I 


:»•; 


,1  ■■•<i 


•lit' 

4 


'i  1 


f , 


i.r' 


Mill 

1 


il 


(M,:, 


il-ff 


J      I 


i  !l 


,I»H 


r   h 


Ih 


illii' 


234 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACAUIANS. 


am  told  there  is  a  venerable  resident  of  that  district 
who  holds  a  patent  for  the  higher  title  of  Duke  of 
Pubnico. 

The  first  baron  was  for  a  time  deputy-governor  of 
the  province  during  the  absence  of  La  Tour.  This 
was  in  1653.  Eighteen  years  later  he  was  living  on 
his  estates  at  Pubnico,  for  he  and  his  family  and  his 
stock  and  his  cultivated  arpents  of  land  figure  there 
in  the  census  taken  in  that  year.  This  was  the  census 
of  167 1,  the  first  taken  in  the  province,  and,  if  you 
count  out  those  taken  by  Moses  and  David  and  those 
of  the  Chinese  and  Romans,  one  of  the  first  in  the 
world.  Nothing  of  the  same  kind  was  done  by  any 
European  nation  at  any  rate  until  the  next  century. 
The  population  of  the  province  at  that  time  was  394. 
Of  the  seventy  heads  of  families,  fifty-four  were  farm- 
ers. There  were  four  coopers,  two  carpenters,  and 
two  armourers ;  one  cutler,  one  farrier,  one  mason, 
and  one  tailor ;  and  two  were  esquires  and  sieurs,  one 
of  them  being  D  Iintremont.  One  of  the  coopers 
told  the  census  man  that  he  was  "  pretty  well,  thank 
you,"  but  did  not  wish  to  give  his  age,  and  so  stands 
the  record  in  the  paper  to  this  day,  in  the  a: ;  ives  at 
Paris.  This  was  a  man,  observe,  not  a  woman.  But 
then  note  also  that  the  ages  of  the  ladies  are  not  given 
at  all. 


THE   ACADIANS — CONTINUED. 


235 


Among  the  seventy  Acadian  families  in  the  province 
at  this  time,  there  were  only  fort^-scven  different 
family  names ;  many  of  the  families  had  been  here  for 
a  generation  or  two  already,  and  had  inter-married  a 
good  deal.  Hence  the  small  number  of  family 
names.  Frojn  the  forty-seven  original  families  who 
came  from  France  between  1604  and  167 1,  four-fifths 
of  all  the  Acadians  of  to-day  are  descended, — not  only 
those  that  still  inhabit  Nova  Scotia  and  the  neighbor- 
ing provinces,  but  all  the  scattered  descendants  of  the 
"debris"  of  the  expulsion  (as  Rameau  calls  them) 
living  in  Maine,  Louisiana,  the  West  Indies,  Guiana 
and  France.  And  this  explains  why  it  is  that  the 
same  few  family  names  are  almost  the  only  ones  still 
found  among  them,  and  enables  us  to  understand  the 
enigmatic  statement  of  the  ex- Yarmouth  priest,  who 
told  a  Chicago  audience  that  he  had  the  cure  of  2,000 
souls  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  could  count  their  names  on 
the  fingers  of  his  hands.  To  such  an  extent  has 
inter-marrying  gone  on  among  them  that  everybody 
is  related  to  everybody  else  nearly,  and  here  in  Yar- 
mouth their  priests  find  it  necessary  to  get  a  dispensa- 
tion for  almost  every  marriage-knot  they  tie. 

From  what  has  just  been  said,  it  will  be  seen  that 
there  must  have  been  but  very  little  French  immigra- 
tion into  Nova  Scotia  after  its  first  settlement.     And 


VA,f 


I 


til 


'"Mh 


IT 


«ii(;"fo*i 


■if. 


236 


ACADIE   ANU   THE   ACAUIANS. 


I,..- 


Mim  '^ 


I)      ;•■  i 


such  indeed  was  the  case.  There  was  perhaps  never 
another  colony  founded  by  any  European  nation  that 
was  more  severely  let  alone  by  the  mother  country 
than  was  the  French  colony  of  Acadia.  And  this  re- 
mark holds  good  of  many  other  things  than  the  send- 
ing out  of  new  batches  of  colonists.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances the  increase  of  the  Acadian  population  is 
something  remarkable.  The  394  of  167 1  had  become 
at  the  time  of  the  expulsion  18,000,  and  that,  too,  in 
spite  of  persecution,  and  famine,  and  sword.  In  this 
respect  the  Acadians  of  to-day  compare  favorably  with 
their  ancestors.  In  Yarmouth  county  they  average 
six  to  a  family,  and  single  instances  far  surpass  that. 
The  late  James  Doucett,  of  Tusket  Forks,  had  twenty- 
seven  children.  The  assistance  of  two  wives  was 
found  necessary  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  feat ; 
but  at  Bloomfield  another  of  our  Acadians  managed 
to  increase  the  population  by  twenty-four,  with  the 
aid  of  a  single  helpmeet. 

What  part  of  France  the  Acadians  came  from  seems 
not  to  have  been  fully  decided  yet.  Some  say  that 
those  of  Yarmouth  came  from  Bretagne  and  those  of 
Clare  from  Normandy.  Rameau,  the  historian  of  La 
France  aux  Colonics,  conjectures  on  philological 
grounds  that  the  D'Entremonts  belonged  to  Bretagne, 
but  the  traditions  of  their  family  and  other  historicj^l 


• «-; 


THE    ACADIANS — CONTINUED. 


23; 


evidence  point  to  Normandy  as  their  ancestral  home. 
Prof.  Lake,  of  Harvard,  has  lately  shown  that  the  New 
Englanders  are  the  descendants  of  the  old  English 
gentry,  who  were  subdued  by  the  Normans.  As  the 
first  English  settlers  of  Yarmouth  and  other  parts  of 
western  Nova  Scotia  were  New  Englanders,  and  as 
they  took  possession  of  the  lands  from  which  the 
Acadians  had  been  expelled,  some  Freeman  of  the 
future  may  find  in  these  circumstances  the  materials 
for  an  ethnologico-historical  contrast  between  the 
Norman  conquest  of  England  and  the  New  England 
settlement  of  Acadia.  But  we  must  hark  back  again 
from  the  future  to  the  past. 

By  comparing  that  old  census  of  1671  with  others 
taken  in  1686,  1693  and  1703,  it  appears  that  Pubnico 
was  the  oldest  of  all  of  the  old  Acadian  settlements 
except  Port  Royal,  and  that  therefore  it  is  to-day  the 
oldest  Acadian  settlement  in  the  world.  Grand  Pre, 
Canard,  Piziquid,  Cobequid,  Beaubassin,  etc. — all 
those  that  have  been  most  written  and  sung  about  in 
history  and  fiction  and  poetry — do  lot  put  in  an  ap- 
pearance until  one  or  other  of  the  late  censuses  men- 
tioned. Of  settlements  near  Pubnico,  Port  Razoir 
appears  for  the  first  time  in  1693,  and  Chebogue — the 
only  Yarmouth  one  mentioned  except  Pubnico — not 
until   1748,  when  it  had  twenty-five  families,  and  was 


<  y-\ 


i«" 


:'J 


i 


M,.',    > 


!■': 


.i 


im 


i     :    ;-    h 


illl, 


III 


llf  "' 


iii 


ii   ,1 


''Urn 


Si 


ii'i' 


11 


J 


r    ' 


I 


238 


ACADIE    AND    THE    ACADIAXS. 


the  largest  and  most  important  village  in  the  county. 
Port  Razoir  was  the  earliest  name  of  the  place  which 
has  since  been  known  as  Port  Roseway  and  New 
Jerusalem,  and  which  is  now  known  as  Shelburne. 
While  bearing  the  august  name  of  New  Jerusalem,  it 
was  offered  for  sale  at  public  auction.  Just  farcy  the 
New  Jerusalem  being  knocked  down  at  Law's  on  a 
Saturday  afternoon,  between  a  barrel  of  apples  and  a 
second-hand  stove ! 

According  to  the  census  of  1686  Philippe  D'Entre- 
mont  was  then  living  at  Port  Royal,  and  ranked  third 
among  the  aristocracy  of  the  day,  next  after  the 
seigneur  of  the  district  and  the  lieutenant-general. 
Though  seventy-seven  years  old  at  this  time,  he  was 
acting  as  attorney-general  under  Governor  Menneval. 
His  seigneurie  at  Pubnico  was  ruled  over  by  his  eldest 
son,  Jacques,  he  who  married  Anne  De  La  Tour. 
After  the  capture  of  Port  Royal  by  Nicholson,  and 
the  final  cession  of  the  province  to  England,  most  of 
the  French  gentry  left  the  country,  but  the  D'Entre- 
monts  remained.  They  seem  to  have  taken  no  part  in 
the  plots  and  intrigues  that  were  carried  on  against 
the  English  government  from  17 13  to  the  expulsion. 
Indeed  it  stands  recorded  in  history  that  through  all 
the  acts  of  open  and  underhand  hostility  of  this  period 
"tJie  D'Entremonts  had  been  peaceable."  Yet  at  the 
expulsion  they  were  not  spared. 


THE  ACADIANS — CONTINUKO. 


239 


of 
It  re- 
in 
inst 
ion. 
all 
iod 
the 


Besides  Pubnico  and  Chebogue  there  were  Acadian 
settlements  in  this  county  at  Chegoggin,  at  Eel  Brook, 
and  along  the  Tusket  river  and  the  lakes,  but  little 
seems  to  be  known  of  them  except  their  names. 
Most  of  their  inhabitants  were  carried  off  to  Boston 
by  Major  Jcdediah  Prebblc  in  1756.  Such  of  them  as 
escaped  to  the  woods  and  those  who  were  allowed  to 
return  settled  down  afterwards  as  near  their  old  homes 
as  they  could  get. 

Of  the  life  of  the  Yarmouth  Acadians  in  past  days, 
we  know,  unfortunately,  very  little.  But  there  seems 
to  be  no  good  reason  for  supposing  that  it  differed 
much  from  that  of  their  brethren  in  the  province  gen- 
erally. That  they  were  engaged  chiefly  in  farming, 
fishing  and  fur-trading — of  this  much  at'least  we  may 
feel  quite  sure.  And  of  these  occupations,  farming — 
the  earliest  and  most  honorable  of  all — was  no  doubt 
the  principal  Dne. 

The  founders  of  the  Acadian  colony  intended  from 
the  beginning  that  its  chief  industry  should  be  agri- 
culture. Many  colonies  founded  about  the  same  time 
gave  their  chief  attention  to  searching  for  the  precious 
metals.  But  Lescarbot  told  the  first  Acadians  that 
the  best  m^ne  he  knew  of  was  a  mine  of  corn  and  of 
wine,  and  Poutrincourt  set  them  to  ploughing  the  soil 
the  very  next  day  after  they  landed.     From  that  time 


>       •!    1 


.       i 


■i'l^ 


■  p.  i  r. 


:i 


Pt 


!   I. 


r    y 


1,1' 


if 


240 


ACADIE  AND   THE  ACADIANS. 


\m 


I  I      '),: 


until  their  expulsion,  agriculture  was  their  one  predom- 
inant industry.  And  they  seem  to  have  been  very 
successful  at  it.  Rameau  says  that  at  the  time  of 
the  expulsion  "  they  were  incontestably  the  most  in- 
dustrious people  and  the  most  advanced  in  agricul- 
ture, of  all  America."  Their  best  work  in  this  line, 
he  says,  was  done  after  1713  under  the  English 
regime.  But  some  of  the  Englishmen  who  lived 
rmiong  them  at  that  time  formed  a  less  favorable 
opinion  of  their  industry  and  agriculture.  Governor 
Phillips,  writing  to  the  Board  of  Trade  in  1734,  calls 
them  "a  proud,  lazy,  obstinate  and  untractable  people, 
and  unskilful  in  the  methods  of  agriculture;"  and  he 
continues,  "  they  have  plenty  of  dung  for  manure, 
which  they  make  no  use  of,  but  when  it  increases  so 
as  to  become  troublesome,  then,  instead  of  laying  it 
on  their  lands,  they  get  rid  of  it  by  removing  their 
barn  to  another  spot."  Truly,  a  heroic  remedy  for  a 
nuisance! 

However  true  this  may  have  been  of  some  of  tlu? 
Acadians  of  the  Annapolis  river  in  Phillips'  time,  it 
will  not  be  accepted  as  true  of  the  race  as  a  whole  by 
any  one  who  has  studied  their  history.  It  would  be 
quite  as  reasonable  to  accept  as  historical  truth  those 
hyper-poetical  and  super-fanciful  pictures  of  the  bright 
side  of  their  life   given  us  by  the  Abbe  Raynal  and 


I    .1"^ 


THE   ACADIANS — CONTINUED. 


24 1 


Longfellow.  Rameau,  a  Frenchman  himself  an':^ 
soaked  through  and  through  with  enthusiasm  and 
sympathy  for  the  ill-fated  race,  tells  us  that  Raynal's 
work  is  rather  "  une  pastorale  de  fantaisic"  than  a 
sober  history,  and  even  admits  that  Longfellow's  de- 
scription of  the  golden  age  in  Acadia  is  "«;/  pen 
embellier  And  yet  it  seems  difficult  for  writers  to 
keep  outside  the  realm  of  poesy  and  fancy  when  treat- 
ing of  this  people.  There  is  some  strange,  bewitching 
fascination  about  them  and  their  history  that  carries 
away  less  romantic  imaginations  than  those  of  abbes 
and  poets. 

Even  newspaper  men  can't  always  resist  it.  In  an 
article  on  the  Pubnico  Acadians  of  to-day,  published 
in  the  Yarmouth  Herald  a  few  weeks  ago,  after  enu- 
merating the  many  flourishing  industries  of  the  place 
— their  fifty-five  fishing  vessels  and  ;$225,ooo  annual 
catch  of  fish;  their  paint  and  oil  stores;  their  furni- 
ture and  tailoring  establishments;  their  boat,  dory, 
door,  sash  and  blind  factories  ;  their  boot  and  shoe  and 
sail-making ;  their  hide  tanning,  etc.,  etc. — the  writer 
gives  the  following  description  of  a  beautiful  scene, 
which  he  witnessed  in  one  of  the  Pubnico  homes  : 
"A  fair  Acadian  lady  was  playing  and  singing  the 
touching  melody  of  "Home,  Sweet  Home;"  the  well- 
known  picture  of  Evangeline  hung  on  a  wall  close  by 
16 


'•ii 


!  ■■!« 


'm 


IN 


ifli 


K    W 


:ji 


^f 


*  y 


V 

p 

W 

■   ■ '( : 

u 

i  ^ 

i 

1 

.  i; 

;    >.,ij1 


Hi 


:|' 


!,  ,      ,'l 

J:      "it 


242 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


the  singer.  With  such  surroundings  the  most  callous 
heart  could  not  fail  to  be  impressed.  The  melodious 
notes  of  the  tune,  the  spirit  of  poor  Payne,  in  his 
Algerian  exile,  breathing  in  the  words  of  the  song,  the 
sad,  plaintive  look  of  Evangeline,  and  the  living  de- 
scendant of  the  exiled  race  in  the  person  of  the  singer, 
all  conspired  to  form  a  scene  of  grandeur  and  sub- 
limity long  to  be  remembered."  Then,  speaking  of 
the  dismal  pro.spect  for  the  Pubnico  fishing  industry 
should  no  satisfactory  arrangement  be  made  with  the 
United  States  government,  he  concluded,  "  Neverthc- 
less,  we  believe  this  enterprising  people  will  devise 
ways  and  means  to  compensate  themselves  for  any 
loss."  And  that  is  just  what  the  Acadians  have  been 
doing  all  through  their  history.  When  turned  adrift 
from  one  home,  or  deprived  of  one  means  of  livelihood, 
they  have  always  been  ready  to  turn  to  a  new  country 
and  to  apply  themselves  with  unflinching  courage  and 
unflagging  industry  to  new  conditions  of  life. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  Colonel  Winslow 
and  his  troops  burnt  and  destroyed  all  the  buildings 
belonging  to  the  P>ench  in  Horto..,  Cornwallis,  or 
Cobequid.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  Acadians  were  not 
all  removed  from  Grand  Pre  until  December,  1755,  and 
during  the  time  that  elapsed  between  September  and 
December  of  that  year,  many  of  the  houses  were  oc- 


THE   ACADIANS — CONTINUED. 


243 


cupied  by  the  Acadians  themselves;  and  when  the 
Connecticut  settlers  first  arrived  at  Horton,  in  1760, 
and  in  Cornwallis,  in  176 1,  many  of  them  moved  into 
the  French  houses  and  put  their  cattle  in  the  barns. 
Old  Barns,  near  Truro,  on  the  Cobequid  Bay,  is 
named  from  French  barns  that  long  stood  there, 
and  until  about  1866  an  old  Acadian  barn  with  a 
straw-thatched  roof  stood  on  a  knoll  opposite  Ross 
Chipman's  house  on  Church  street,  Cornwallis.  For  a 
long  time  it  was  used  by  Colonel  Kerr.  In  Horton 
many  of  the  houses  of  the  village  of  Grand  Pre  were 
standing  long  after  the  New  England  settlers  came, 
and  minute  descriptions  of  the  church  or  mass-house 
have  been  transmitted  to  our  own  time. 

What  a  glamour  Longfellow  has  thrown  around 
these  people  by  the  magic  of  his  pen !  We  are  sensible 
to  it,  and  freely  acknowledge  the  fascination ;  yet 
ever  with  it,  deep  in  the  sympathetic  heart,  must  re- 
main the  anger,  which  is  not  sin,  against  the  false 
priests  who  led  them  to  their  ruin,  and  the  heartless 
soldiers  who  so  ruthlessly  expelled  them  from  their 
homes : 


M 


^m  I 


m:A 


M 

ilifii 


m 

I 


4 


-  &M 


I 


11 
Hi 


,  I 


:iii|, 


.■y 


^m 


•'Many  a  weary  year  has  passed  since  the  burning  of  Grand  Pr4, 
When  on  the  falling  tide  the  freighted  vessels  departed, 
Bearing  a  nation,  with  all  its  household  gods,  into  exile, 
Exile  without  an  end  and  without  an  example  in  story." 


*    ♦ 


It 


'-  m 


.:!    it 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


m 


THE  FIRST  GERMAN  SCHOOL  IN  LUNENBURG. 

TTAVING  made  this  long  diversion  in  the  inquiry 
^  ^  after  the  French  element  in  the  community,  we 
return  to  the  Germans  of  Lunenburg.  As  we  have 
seen,  Jung  puts  their  number  at  two  hundred  and  fifty 
families.  An  average  of  five  to  a  family  would  give  a 
population  of  twelve  hundred  and  fifty.  But  at  the 
time  these  figures  were  put  down  by  Jung,  Mr.  Mor- 
reau  reports  the  number  of  his  German,  French  and 
English  communicants  to  have  been  reduced  from 
two  hundred  to  between  fifty-four  and  sixty.  Many 
of  them  were  in  their  graves,  but  there  was  another 
reason  than  death  for  the  reduction.  The  Germans 
had  withdrawn  from  any  seeming  connection  with  the 
Church  of  England,  and  were  meeting  in  private 
houses.  They  were  also  faithfully  endeavoring  to  se- 
cure a  pastor  of  their  own  faith.  They  were  working 
hard  to  provide  for  their  daily  temporal  wants,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  striving  to  meet  the  mental  and  spirit- 
ual necessities  of  themselves  and  their  children.  It 
was  not  because  they  were  dull  and  stupid,  as  some 

supposed,  that  they  remained  so  long  uncared  for  and 

(244) 


THE   FIRST   GERMAN   SCHOOL   IN    LUNENBURG.       245 


untaught.  The  German  mind  is  deep.  The  spiritual 
nature  of  the  race  is  sympathetic  and  profound.  The 
rehgious  German  would  rather  starve  the  body  than 
neglect  the  soul.  The  spiritual  needs  are  of  greater 
moment  to  him  than  the  wants  of  body  or  mind.  But 
in  the  case  of  these  settlers,  accustomed  as  they  had 
been  all  their  lives  to  looking  to  their  civil  rulers  for 
the  supply  of  their  mental  and  spiritual  needs,  by  the 
appointment  of  schoolmasters  and  clergymen,  we  need 
not  be  surprised  to  find  them  looking  to  them  still. 
They  waited  on  them  long,  before  making  an  inde- 
pendent effort  to  supply  their  wants  themselves. 

"  Because  we  could  no  longer  endure  to  see  the  pit- 
iful condition  of  our  children,  growing  up  as  they  are 
in  ignorance,  we  determined  to  wait  no  longer  upon 
our  superiors.  We  accordingly  made  the  necessary 
arrangements  among  ourselves,  without  governmental 
aid,  and  finally  succeeded  in  securing  the  services  of  a 
German  school-teacher  in  the  year  1760."  This  was 
ten  years  after  they  left  Germany.  The  chronicle  con- 
tinues :  "  He  had  a  large  number  of  children  to 
instruct,  and  everything  was  going  well  with  the 
school ;  but  here,  to  our  sorrow,  trouble  was  occa- 
sioned and  hindrances  were  laid  in  our  way  by  those 
who  should  have  given  us  aid.  At  this  time  the  Rev. 
Robert  Vincent  came  into  our  settlement  as  English 


U 


'  ^m 


'■^ ",  t 


\m 


'  I- 


M 


246 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


ill 


\l^  I 


■'  "iyif 


!; ;  3 


I 


l,:«l 


missionary.  The  services  were  conducted  by  him  in 
the  English  language.  He  took  our  German  school- 
master under  his  patronage  and  control,  paying  him 
a  salary  of  five  pounds  per  annum. 

*'  All  this  was  no  better  than  it  had  been  heretofore 
with  respect  to  our  church  affairs,  and  in  regard  to  our 
school  quite  different  intentions  soon  became  mani- 
fest. The  German  language  was  entirely  abolished 
from  our  school,  and  the  order  was  issued  that  those 
who  would  not  study  the  English  language  would  not 
be  allowed  to  attend  the  school.  (Our  schoolmaster 
himself  was  not  able  to  speak  or  understand  the  Eng- 
lish language,  and  was  obliged  to  study  hard  from 
day  to  day  to  gain  a  little  knowledge  of  the  lessons  he 
professed  to  teach.)  Through  this  the  .school  was 
broken  up." 

That  is  the  plain,  unvarnished  tale  as  told  by  Jung. 
The  name  of  the  school-master  who  sold  his  services 
so  cheaply,  and  probably  drew  all  the  salary  his  ser- 
vices were  worth,  has  been  lost  in  friendly  oblivion. 
But  the  history  of  the  founding  and  destruction  of  the 
first  school  of  the  Germans  remains,  a  pathetic  inci- 
dent in  the  annals  of  the  town.  The  good  intentions 
of  the  people  were  hindered,  their  efforts  at  self-help 
thwarted,  their  loving  endeavors,  amid  distress  and 
poverty,  to  educate  their  children,  thrown  back  upon 


i  1^ 


THE   FIRST   GERMAN   SCHOOL    IN    LUNENBURG.       24/ 


themselves,  whether  by  good  intent  or  evil  intent  the 
sequel  may  explain.  At  present  it  looks  like  another 
case  of  the  hawk  protecting  the  dove. 

Jung  says  :  "  Because  the  parents  could  not  under- 
stand the  English  language,  they  wanted  their  children 
to  be  first  instructed  in  German,  that  they  might  teach 
them  the  principles  of  their  most  holy  religion,  after 
which  they  were  satisfied  to  have  them  learn  English." 
This  was  a  natural  desire,  highly  creditable  to  the 
devout  and  faithful  people,  and  also  a  reasonable  con- 
cession to  those  who  were  endeavoring  to  Anglicize 
their  children.  It  shows  that  in  their  hearts  religion 
had  the  first  place,  and  language  the  second. 

"  When  Mr.  Vincent  saw  that  the  school  was  broken 
up  and  the  consequences  not  what  he  anticipated,  he 
allowed  that  English  instruction  should  be  confined  to 
the  forenoons,  and  the  afternoons  devoted  to  GernicUi. 
This  he  did  in  the  hope  of  resuscitating  the  school. 
But  the  condition  was  attached  that  whoever  would 
not  send  their  children  to  the  English  school  should 
not  send  them  to  the  German.  The  plan  would  have 
been  a  good  one,  but  the  confidence  of  the  people  in 
him  and  the  school  was  gone." 

These  arc  candid  statements  of  the  old  historian. 
The  school  was  broken  up  because  they  refused  to 
send  their  children  to  it.     That  looks  badly.     Did  not 


Hi. 


.  W'' 


It 


# 

it*'.-      "-^ 


■i 


248 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


M 
(I 


they  wish  to  have  their  children  educated  ?  Certainly. 
They  had  moved  in  the  matter  themselves.  But  there 
had  been  unsolicited  interference,  which  they  were 
manly  enough  to  resent.  Their  holy  religion  stood 
fii  t  in  their  affections.  Everything  in  their  history 
revo/ed  around  it.  Everything  was  made  secondary 
to  it.  And  rather  than  allow  their  children  to  be  edu- 
cated in  a  language  which  they  could  not  understand, 
ari  in  a  system  of  doctrine  which  they  did  not  believe, 
they  chose  to  deprive  them  of  the  benefits  of  all  edu- 
cation, save  such  as  with  the  limited  time  and  qualifi- 
cations at  their  disposal  they  could  bestow  on  them  in 
their  homes.  This  shows  the  heroic  mettle  of  these 
ancient  worthies ;  but,  unfortunately,  those  in  author- 
ity did  not  understand  their  motives,  or  were  not  capa- 
ble of  appreciating  their  self-sacrifice  for  the  sake  of 
their  religion,  set  them  down  as  obstinate,  intractable 
boors,  and  treated  them  accordingly. 

Of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vincent  the  record  in  Halifax  says: 
''1761,  August  7.  Advised  that  the  Rev.  Robert  Vin- 
cent be  appointed  to  minister  at  Lunenburg,  salary 
seventy  pounds,  and  twenty  pounds  per  annum  as 
schoolmaster  there."  "  August  13.  Advised  that  the 
Rev.  R.  Vincent  be  admitted  to  celebrate  divine  ser- 
vice in  the  church  at  Lunenburg,  and  there  perform 
all  rites  and  ceremonies,  according  to  the  usages  of  the 


THE    FIRST    GKRMAX    SCHOOL    IN    LUNENBURG.       ^49 

Church  of  England,  alternately  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Morreau  ;  and  that  Colonel  Sutherland  be  requested 
to  adjust  all  matters  relating  to  the  church  between 
them."  He  commenced  his  duties  as  minister  and 
teacher  in  1762.  It  has  been  stated  that  "he  was  re- 
markable for  indefatigable  application  and  moderate 
conduct  in  the  course  of  his  mission,"  and  it  was  be- 
lieved that  "persevering  in  his  duties  even  beyond  his 
strength  shortened  his  days."  He  di.sappears  in  a 
short  time,  his  successor  coming  upon  the  scene  in 
1768. 


m 


,t'ii'ii.!M 


t 

Ml 


.     i' 


..       I: 


)> 


\jn 


!, 


4 1 


Si 


♦    * 


Rf-™ 


■  1   .1  (' 


■  I 


n  t 


:,•       i 


;-.  I 


I  'i 


I    ": 


:■   1 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  HOUSES  AND  PEOPLE  OF  THE  OLDEN  TIME,  BY  THE 
LIGHT  OF  THE  FISH-OIL  LAMP. 

T^J'R  leave  the  educational  affairs  of  the  people  at 

V  v' 

'  '  this  point,  to  gather  up  some  reminiscences  of 
their  times,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  lived. 
Their  houses  were  log  cabins,  chinked  with  moss,  or 
daubed  with  clay.  Most  of  them  were  built  of  round 
logs  with  the  bark  on.  The  more  pretentious  had 
two  sides  of  the  timbers  hewed.  The  roofii  were 
first  made  of  bark,  then  of  straw  thatch,  and  later  of 
split  shingles  several  feet  in  length,  kept  in  their 
places  by  long  poles  weighted  with  stones.  Shingles 
were  sometimes  put  on  with  wooden  pins;  those  nailed 
with  wrought-iron  nails  were  a  later  development. 

We  know  whereof  we  speak  when  we  aver,  concern- 
ing some  of  these  old  houses,  that  they  were  substan- 
tially built  and  very  comfortable.  We  passed  several 
happy  years  in  one  of  a  little  later  date,  which  was 
one  hundred  and  twelve  years  old  when  it  was  shoved 
around  the  corner  to  make  room  for  something  more 
modern.     It  is  still  in  use. 

Across  the  street  was  another  even  older,  which  is 

(250) 


HOMES   AND    PEOPLE   OF  OLDEN   llME. 


2;i 


Still  inhabited.  What  talcs  these  old  houses  could 
tell  if  they  could  speak !  How  they  have  looked  out 
from  the  little  dormer  windows  in  the  roof  upon  the 
changing  world!  The  former  was  the  parsonage, 
standing  in  the  odor  of  sanctity  beside  the  church  ; 
the  latter  a  brewery  facing  its  clerical  neighbor,  in  no 
wise  abashed  so  long  as  its  beer  was  good ;  for  did 
not  the  pastor  and  the  brewer  fraternize  and  walk  to- 
gether in  peace  in  those  good  old  times?  Aiid  did  not 
the  little  brewery  send  forth  many  a  gallon  imperial  of 
sparkling,  honest'y  compounded  drink  to  cheer  the 
hearts  and  slake  the  thirst  of  the  laborers  who  built 
that  parsonage  and  church?  Nay,  is  it  not  of  tradi- 
tion that  the  exhausted  choristers  between  the  hymns 
eistwhile  did  find  it  convenient  to  step  across  and 
lubricate  their  thirsty  pipes  from  foaming  mugs  in  the 
COS}'-  tap-room  of  that  same  ancient  hostelry?  Why 
should  it  be  ashamed,  forsooth  ? 

What  gallant  grooms  and  blushing  brides  ascended 
the  steps  which  led  into  that  antique  parsonage,  and 
promised  within  its  venerable  walls  to  take  each  other 
for  health  or  for  sickness,  for  prosperity  or  adversity, 
for  better  or  worse,  until  death  should  them  part ! 
And  with  the  blessing  of  the  man  of  God  and  the 
smile  of  the  Father  upon  their  union,  have  they  not 
come  down  glad  that  the  ordeal  was  safely  passed  ! 
What  christenings,  too,  and  funerals,  were  there ! 


'   1  « 


1 1 


■!ii 


■  w 

■.jl:^f| 

:! 

t 

>    , 

» 

.    ♦ 


t\ 


ill, 


■|i 


't.lii| 


''1 


.4""*' 


252 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


If 


And  across  the  way  mine  host  of  the  Dolphin — the 
hostelry  must  have  had  a  name,  and  that,  perforce,  a 
nautical — rubicund  and  jolly,  brewed  and  malted  and 
sent  forth  the  effervescing  draughts  with  which  each 
feast  was  crowned.  And  in  the  long  winter  nights 
what  gatherings  were  there  beneath  his  hospitable 
roof!  Here  came  together  the  even-tempered  farmers 
from  the  plains  of  Saxony,  and  met  the  vivacious  vine- 
dressers from  the  sunny  hills  of  France.  What  mus- 
cular and  gallant  calves  those  stockings  of  grey  en- 
robed !  What  glorious  buckles  of  steel  or  brass  or 
even  costlier  metals  shone  upon  and  for  the  adorn- 
ment of  their  knees  at  each  recurring  holiday !  And 
those  round  jackets  and  short  breeches — who  will  say 
they  were  not  more  comfortable  than  the  long-tailed 
coats  and  French  trousers  now  in  vogue  ?  Nor  were 
the  extremities  left  without  their  proper  furnishing. 
The  tall  hats  of  Brabant  were  en  mode ;  small  as  to 
the  crown,  wide-spreading  in  the  rim,  and  rising  heav- 
enward to  unrecorded  heights;  while  sabots,  scooped 
from  blocks  of  birchen  wood,  made  fast  with  leathern 
thongs  and  ornamented  with  broad  buckles,  gave  the 
necessary  covering  to  the  feet.  Long  plaits  of  hair, 
bound  in  with  ribands  of  black,  the  which  were  known 
as  "  queues,"  a  name  which  brought  down  many  a  fair 
speller  in  disgrace  in  our  boyhood's  days,  descended 


HOMES   AND   l^EOPLE   OE    uLDES    llME. 


253 


from  their  heads.  Such  were  our  forefathers  in  ap- 
pearance in  those  pahny  days  of  eld. 

And  our  foremothers,  too — the  women,  Heaven 
bless  them! — were  they  not  also  there  in  all  the  proper 
glory  of  their  sphere?  Did  not  brii^ht  eyes  sparkle 
from  beneath  the  gay  kerchiefs  within  which  were 
l)risoned  their  abundant  tresses?  Were  they  of  old 
not  held  in  mind  by  him  who  crowned  the  Book  of 
Proverbs  with  the  description  of  a  virtuous  woman  ? 
For  these  sought  wool  and  flax,  and  worked  willincjly 
with  both  their  hands ;  these  laid  their  hands  to 
spindle  and  distaff,  and  threw  the  flying  shuttle  to 
weave  the  web  from  which  their  own  clothing  was 
made;  these  were  not  afraid  of  the  snow  for  their 
households,  seeing  they  were  clad  with  double  gar- 
ments. 

We  have  in  our  possession  now  a  silhouette,  or 
shadow  picture,  of  one  of  the  ancient  worthies  of  the 
town,  in  high  collared  surtout,  stiff  stock  and  plaited 
queue.  This  picture,  cut  with  the  scissors  before  the 
science  of  photography  was  known,  is  a  genuine  relic 
of  the  olden  time.  From  it  we  form  an  idea  of  the 
appearance  of  the  people  upon  state  occasions;  and  it 
must  have  been,  to  our  way  of  thinking  now,  an  ap- 
pearance marvelous  to  behold. 

The  household  and  kitchen  utensils  in  use  among 


:,'}' 


■  h 


* 

1 

I 

1 
) 

•  M 

i .'  •■' 

t: 

!'• 

*  t  _ 

i 

't 


^li 


254 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACAt)lAKS. 


1^1 


!!IJ!"it 


lilt  I 


'i 


I. '  ! 


"■^ 


them  were  commonly  few  and  simple.  Benches 
ranged  around  the  walls  did  duty  as  chairs.  Tables 
of  home  manufacture,  without  spreads  or  napkins,  held 
their  fru.2:al  meals.  Some  articles  of  china-ware  and 
crockery  remained  of  those  which  had  been  brought 
from  fatherland.  Occasionally  at  birthday  celebrations 
or  at  christenings,  the  hoarded  spoons  and  other  little 
articles  of  plate  were  solemnly  brought  forth  to  grace 
the  board  and  shine  with  awe-inspiring  luster  for  the 
time. 

The  daily  fare  was  simple  and  healthful ;  potatoes 
or  other  vegetables  grown  at  home,  and  fishes  from 
the  sea  in  all  abundance  and  variety.  A  pot,  swung 
from  a  hook  on  the  iron  crane  in  the  throat  of  the 
huge,  cavernous  chimney  which  took  up  one  end  of 
the  house,  served  for  many  purposes  beside  the  cook- 
ing of  the  family  meals.  The  little  teapot  of  brown 
glazed  earthenware  simmered  on  the  embers  of  the 
liearth  and  mingled  the  delicate  aroma  with  the  more 
stalwart  odors  of  saur  kraut,  potatoes  and  fish,  or 
pork  and  beans.  Sugar  was  a  luxury  indulged  in  by 
the  few;  the  many  ate  the  brown  molasses  of  the  West 
Indies  on  their  barley  bread,  or  sweetened  their  cup  of 
tea  therewith,  and  poor,  indeed,  was  he  who  at  any 
time  within  ten  years  after  the  founding  of  thr  town, 
for  any  cause  was  obliged  to  forego  the  pleasure  of 
using  that  staple  commodity  ci(i  libitmn. 


HOMES    AXD    PEOPLE    OF   OLOEX    TIME. 


255 


Once  in  the  course  of  my  travels  I  fell  in  with  an 
old,  old  man,  no  matter  who,  or  where,  or  when,  who 
had  a  grievous  complaint  to  lodge  against  the  persons 
upon  whom  in  his  helplessness  he  was  dependent  for 
his  daily  bread.  He  had  enough  substantial  food  to 
cat,  had  bread  and  butter  and  eggs  and  meat,  had 
milk  and  coffee  and  tea  to  drink,  tobacco  to  chew,  and 
everything  else  but  "sweetening."  And  bitter  in  his 
soul  was  that  poor  old  man,  avowing  his  desire  to  die, 
and  darkly  hinting  at  the  fell  determinantion  within 
his  heart  to  hasten  that  departure  because  he  had  no 
".sweetening."  He,  who  once  had  been  the  independ- 
ent owner  of  farms  and  stock,  who  had  built  saw- 
mills and  owned  them  and  controlled  men,  who  had 
never  in  those  days  known  what  it  was  to  be  short  in 
it,  was  now  without  "sweetening."  Ruefully  he  mur- 
mured, in  his  dotage,  the  refrain  of  his  standing  griev- 
ance, "not  a  drop  of  sweetening."  It  had  been  the 
one  standing  luxury  of  his  life ;  it  was  now  forbidden 
by  the  physician;  he  had  "no  sweetening,"  and  earth 
and  this  life  had  no  further  charm. 

Wald-thee  was  a  favorite  beverage  in  many  a  home. 
It  was  compounded  from  the  leaves  of  wintergreen,  or 
mountain-tea,  steeped  or  boiled  in  the  sap  of  the 
sugar  maple.  The  sugar  and  molasses  from  this  tree 
was   extensively   manufactured    and    used    where   it 


'\  \y 


:  \\ 


i-  » 


tl. 


*•  I; 

Ml 


I 


m" 


'  M., 


"VI 

!■   -,  n  ' 


lj 

I'ti 

i 

•:■"! 

1 

i 
I 

">  i 

I  ■ 

> 

■■4' 

.1 

"i 

":'i 

1) 

1 

1 

i 

256 


ACADIE    AND    THE   ACADlAxN'S. 


grew.  And  ju-st  here  occun  ^.n  incident  of  later  date. 
Before  the  town  of  Bridgewater  was  founded,  an  ad- 
ven'.urous  spirit  pushed  out  into  the  wilderness,  and 
brilt  for  himself  a  little  cabin  on  the  farm  which  was 
'o  be,  on  the  hills  looking  down  the  La  Have.  His 
drink  was  water  from  the  wildwood  springs,  but  once 
vvhile  in  town  he  riotously  squandered  two  ^.nd  six 
pence  in  the  purchase  of  "store  tea."  But  he  had  no 
wife  to  draw  it  for  him.  Following  his  own  judgment, 
as  a  man  must  sometimes  do  in  unaccustomed  straits, 
he  boiled  it  thoroughly  in  his  camp-kettle,  threw  the 
water  away,  and  endeavored  to  eat  the  leaves.  He 
did  it  heroically,  but  like  the  Scotchman's  haggis,  "  a 
little  of  it  went  a  great  way."  His  intense  disgust 
while  going  through  the  martyrdom  led  him  to  make 
complaint  to  others  when  opportunity  presented,  and 
so  the  story  came  out,  and  is  repeated  even  unto  this 
day. 

And  this,  as  the  lamented  Lincoln  would  say,  re- 
minds me  of  another,  which  happened  to  some  Ice- 
landers, of  the  Musquodoboit  settlement  in  Halifax 
county.  They  had  been  accustomed  in  their  own 
country  to  seethe  pottage  from  the  Iceland  moss,  and, 
on  their  arrival  in  this  country,  looked  about  them  for 
something  of  the  same  kind.  Their  search  was  re- 
warded  by    finding   something   that    looked   like   it. 


HOMF.S    AND    PF.OPLK    OF    OLDEN    TIME. 


257 


Thty  gathered  and  prepared   it   in   due  form.     They 

boiled  it  long  and  furiously,  but   it  would   not  soften, 

nor  would  it  become  sweet.     The  longer  it  was  cooked 

the  tougher  it  grew.     The  harder  they  boiled   it  the 

more  tasteless  it  seemed.     They  were  obliged  to  give 

up  the  attempt    in   despair.      And  when    I    inquired 

what   they  had  been   cooking,  they  gravely  informed 

me  it  was   the  mosses  and  lichens  which   grew  upon 

the  trunks  of  the  forest  trees.     And,  God  knows,  they 

were  to  be  pitied,  for  they  were  in  a  state  bordering 

on  starvation.     It  was  no  joke  for  them.     But  how  I 

wander ! 

Stoves   in  the  early  days  of  Lunenburg  were  quite 

unknown.     The  cooking   was  done  on  the  open  fire, 

and    the   bread-baking  in   the  oven.      An    utensil    in 

vogue  in  those  days,  which  has  now  been  relegated  to 

the  garret,  was  the  "  Dutch  oven."     It  was  a  circular 

plate  of  iron,  about  eighteen  inches  in  diaiieter,  with 

three  long  feet  beneath,  and  a  rim  perhaps  two  inches 

or  less  in  height  above,  having  holes  in  it  for  the  bail 

or  handle.     The  barley   dough   for  the  Johnny-cake 

was  rolled  out  and  spread  on  this;  glowing  coals  were 

raked  in  a  heap  to  the  edge  of  the  hearth  ;  on  this 

heap  the  oven  was  placed,  the  iron  cover  was  put  on, 

and  the  whole  surmounted  and  crowned  with  a  layer 

of  bright  embers.     And   many  a  heartsome  cake  was 
'7 


i'.  .i 


i   '  I-,).  i*1.i 


■\ 


i 

\ 

\ 

ii 

i 

liiJfl 

238 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


I    'f  r 


1, 

i 

r 

1 

■  )■ 


'I 


'M 


k" 


I'i'-''' 


baked  therein!  The  nearest  approach  to  a  stove  for 
heating  purposes  was  a  sort  of  brazier  made  of  tough 
clay,  about  a  foot  in  height,  hollow  in  the  centre  to 
receive  the  charcoal  or  the  embers  from  which  the 
heat  was  derived.  As  there  were  no  closed  stoves, 
there  was  no  burnt  air  with  all  the  moisture  and  all 
the  oxygen  exhausted  from  it,  and  no  deadly  super- 
abundance of  sulphurous  gas  to  inhale ;  and  hence 
there  were  none  of  the  peculiar  diseases  generated  or 
fostered  thus,  to  be  found  among  the  people  of  those 
primitive  times. 

But  they  were  compelled  to  contend  with  another 
prolific  source  of  annoyance,  discomfort  and  disease, 
from  which  the  advances  of  science  and  discovery 
have  happily  freed  their  descendants.  That  annoy- 
ance arose  from  the  difficulty  which  they  had  in 
obtaining  light.  In  their  houses  they  had  no  light 
except  the  flickering  gleams  which  sprang  from  the 
fire  of  logs  upon  the  hearth.  But  lamps,  shaped  like 
a  saucer  pinched  together  at  one  side,  in  which  was 
laid  a  strip  of  cotton  cloth,  were  made  of  earthenware 
or  iron.  These  were  hung  from  a  nail  in  a  beam 
overhead,  and  fed  with  fish-oil  or  lard.  The  fish-oil 
was  manufactured  for  the  purpose  from  the  liver  of 
the  dog-fish.  Any  one  who  has  ever  passed  widiin 
half  a  mile  to  windward  of  a  string  of  these  malodor- 


n 


HOMES   AND    PEOPLE   OF   OLDEN    TIME. 


259 


I  . 


ous  denizens  of  the  sea  in  process  of  curing,  needs  not 
be  told  how  vile  the  smell  of  the  burning  must  have 
been.  To  abate  the  punishment  of  being  compelled 
constantly  to  inhale  the  horrid  odor,  a  large  funnel- 
shaped  canopy  was  hung  above  the  lamp.  From  the 
apex  of  this  a  pipe  or  conductor  was  led  through  any 
convenient  opening  out  at  the  roof  or  window  to  the 
outer  air;  and  later,  when  stoves  came  into  use,  this 
conductor  of  smoke  from  the  lamp  was  carried  into 
the  stove-pipe.  Many  of  those  stove-pipes  with  the 
little  branch  by  which  this  conductor  of  lamp-smoke 
was  attached,  now  unused  and  covered  with  a  sheet- 
iron  cap,  may  still  be  seen  in  the  houses  of  the  people 
thereabout — a  thing  of  mystery  to  the  uninitiated.  I 
found  one  of  these  mysterious  openings  through  the 
ceiling  of  the  old  parsonage-home,  with  an  arrange- 
ment in  the  attic  over  it  for  retaining  the  smoke  and 
collecting  the  soot,  which  was  afterward  converted 
into  lamp-black. 

Thus  words  originate.  Never,  until  after  long, 
puzzling  search  I  had  fathomed  the  mystery  of  this 
contrivance  for  disposing  of  the  smoke  of  the  fish-oil 
lamp,  did  I  know  why  the  soot  from  the  smoke  of  oil 
was  called  lamp  black,  rather  than  stove-black,  or  any 
other  kind  of  black.  Shakespeare,  whom  I  have 
already  had  occasion  to  quote,  says: 


, 


.  I 


-.•.   !>•    ■■ 

n.   .^ 


h  < 


I 

■        !|     i. 

li     ! 


260  ACADIE    AND   THE   ACADIANS. 

"  A  rose  by  any  other  name  would  smell  as  sweet," 

yet  there  commonly  is,  and  if  not  there  ought  to  be, 
a  reason  for,  and  something  in,  a  name.  And  this  is 
what  there  is  in  the  name  of  lamp-black.  And  lamp- 
black is  not  a  thing  to  be  despised.  It  h.is  become  a 
potent  factor  in  the  world's  progress.  Printer's  ink  is 
made  from  it. 


;f 

:■' 

•'',1 

'I'i 

'  ^i.-    ■ 

■>!i 

-  i  .•  'll. 


i  '-^^ 


1 


CHAPTER  XX. 
THE  BOOKS  THE  FATHERS  READ. 

WE  may  wonder  what  need  those  pioneers  had  for 
lamps  and  lamplight  in  the  days  when  news- 
papers were  almost  unknown,  and  books  so  relatively 
few.  The  person  with  that  query  in  mind  should 
stand  right  here,  where  these  words  are  being  penned, 
that  he  might  see  a  sight  which  would  satisfy  his 
mind  upon  that  score.  Here  are  some  of  the  books 
they  read  in  those  by-gone  days.  Not  a  family 
among  them  that  did  not  have  its  library.  Two 
wooden  pins,  driven  into  auger-holes  in  a  log  of  the 
wall,  with  a  board  laid  on  them,  held  the  precious 
volumes.  They  were  not  many.  The  range  of  variety 
was  not  extensive.  A  dozen,  or,  at  most,  a  dozen  and 
a  half,  comprised  the  whole  assortment  of  different 
works.  Outside  the  Herr  Pfarrers  library,  the  books 
beyond  that  range  were  few  and  far  between.  But 
what  books  they  were  !  The  very  cream  and  essence 
of  the  devotional  literature  of  the  age  ! 

Each  little  collection  had  one  copy  oi  the  Book  of 
Books.     Here  is  one  in  my  collection.     The  covers 

are  of  half-inch  boards  encased  in  leather,  once  bril- 

(261) 


% 


%  I 


rti 


i 


262 


ACAniE    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


1 1 

I. 


liant  with  embossed  and  gilded  filigree-work  and  corner 
pieces  of  figured  brass;  now  black  with  age  and  bat- 
tered and  worn  by  reason  of  much  using.  Ten  inches 
wide,  fifteen  inches  high,  and  five  inches  through  from 
c  ;ver  to  cover,  by  actual  measurment  with  the  accur- 
ate p'ece  of  carpenter's  i^e  '"•  .hat  drawer,  is  this  ven- 
erable book.  Open  it  wii.b  I<j>  g  hand.  Here,  inside, 
upon  the  broad  back  is  the  iorm^  ;  'owner's  name: 

Leonhart  Jung. 
Anrj  following,  the  Name  of  the  Holy  Trinity: 

GOTT  DER  VaTER. 

GOTT  DER  SOHN. 

GOTT    DER  HeILIGE  GeIST. 

Following  that  is  a  quotation  from  the  Gospel  of 
St.  Mark,  xvi.  16,  "  He  that  believeth  and  is  bap- 
tized shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be 
damned."  That  was  the  summary  of  that  man's  faith; 
and  who  shall  declare  that  he  was  not  orthodox  in  his 
belief?  The  fly-leaf  of  his  Bible  bears  quotations  in 
German  manuscript  from  favorite  hymns  and  passages 
of  Koly  Writ.  The  title-page  is  illuminated,  the  alter- 
nate lines  being  printed  in  crimson.  A  statement 
made  in  the  context  to  the  title  explains  that  the 
translation  of  the  Bible  as  it  is  here  given  in  the  Ger- 
man mother-tongue,  was  begun  by  Doctor  Martin 
Luther  in  the  year  -A  Christ   1522  and  completed  in 


-•m^ 


BOOKS   THE   FATHERS   REAO. 


263 


the  year  1534.  The  publisher  was  Johann  Andres, 
Nurnberg  in  Bavaria,  1747.  Further  than  this  into 
the  sacred  volume  now  we  cannot  go.  Despite  the 
temptation  to  dwell  upon  the  wonderful  wood-cuts 
with  which  its  broad  pages  are  so  liberally  embel- 
lished, we  reverently  close  the  book  and  lay  it  away. 
Following  in  the  order  of  merit  and  in  the  esteem 
of  the  old  Germans  everywhere  is  IVahres  Christcn- 
thunt,  that  is,  the  collected  writings  of  the  venerab<  ^ 
John  Arndt  upon  True  Christianity.  This  copy  was 
printed  at  Frankfort-on-the-Main,  by  John  Boeri.rt, 
1707.  No  devotional  book  ever  written,  so  far  as  we 
know,  excepting  Luther's  Catechism  and,  of  course, 
the  Bible,  has  had  a  wider  or  more  deserved  circula- 
tion. Mere,  beside  this  old  copy,  it  stands  in  its  ele- 
gant English  dress,  translated  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles 
F.  Schaeffer;  Philadelphia,  Smith,  English  &  Co., 
1868.  It  has  been  translated  into  Latin,  Danish, 
Swedish,  Bohemian,  Polish,  Low  Dutch,  French, 
Turkish,  Malabar,  Tamul,  and  many  other  languages. 
During  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne  of  England  large 
numbers  of  German  emigrants  passing  through  that 
country  on  their  way  to  New  York  and  Pennsylvania, 
were  furnished  by  the  Rev.  Anthony  William  Boehm, 
a  German  Lutheran  clergyman,  court  chaplain  to 
Prince  George  of  Denmark,  the   consort   of  Queen 


\r 


■  ! 


/I 


I 


f    ,; 


i'.f^' 


la 


t :' 


t    • 


:i '.  i 


ttljf 


,«l 


264 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


Anne,  with  copies  of  this  noble  work.  I  do  not  know 
of  any  similar  donation  having  been  made  to  our 
Nova  Scotia  pioneers,  but  I  expect  some  time  to  find 
a  record  to  that  effect.  The  similarity  of  the  books  in 
the  possession  of  the  people — I  found  the  same  kinds 
in  every  collection— leads  to  the  supposition  that  not 
literary  or  devotional  taste  alone,  but  the  liberality  of 
some  good  Christian  heart,  had  somewhat  to  do  with 
the  uniformity. 

Here,  again,  are  samples  of  the  hymn-books  in  use 
among  them  :  First,  and  most  popular,  is  "  Das  Afar- 
hurgcv  Gesang-Bnch"  with  a  frontispiece  devoted  to  a 
full-length  wood-cut  of  Dr.  Luther  in  gown  and  bands, 
with  the  apocryphal  Bohemian  goose  behind  him.  It 
is  a  horrible  piece  of  art ;  printed  by  Christopher 
wSauer,  in  Germantown,  Pa.,  1770.  Next,  the  Halle 
Hymn-Book,  edited  by  the  Director  of  the  Orphan 
House,  John  Anastasius  Freylinghausen,  one  of  the 
ancestors  of  ex-President  Arthur's  Secretary  of  State, 
and  one  time  Governor  of  New  Jersey :  printed  at  the 
Orphan  House,  Halle,  1758.  Following  this,  the 
Nurnberg  Hymn-Book;  name  of  the  compiler  not 
given;  printed  by  Lorenz  Bieling,  Nurnberg,  1733. 
The  two  latter  have,  in  connection  with  the  hymns, 
collections  of  prayers  suitable  for  various  occasions. 
Anotlier  of  these  hymn-books,  supposed  to  have  been 


P.OOKS   THE   FATHKRS   READ. 


265 


compiled  by  Dr.  Johann  Lorenz  Jan,  but  minus  the 
title-page,  is  valuable  on  account  of  the  biographical 
register  of  authors  which  it  contains,  as  well  as  for  the 
large  number  of  valuable  hymns;  printed  at  Oebringcn, 
May  I,  1626. 

Here  is  a  collection  of  prayer-books:  The  first  is 
the  well-known  Starke's  Hand-Buck  in  the  original, 
Stuttgart,  1797.  This  book  has  been  reprinted  in 
many  editions,  in  English  and  in  other  languages. 
Another  little  volume  is  one  that  had  been  given  out 
under  the  patronage  of  the  Duke  of  Saxony,  by  an  un- 
known author.  Nuremburg,  1676.  Prayers  for  every 
conceivable  occasion  and  state  of  mind  are  found  in  it. 
One  is  said  during  the  raging  of  a  storm,  another  in 
fine  weather,  another,  that  ought  to  be  offered  more 
fervently  and  more  frequently  than  probably  it  is  by 
those  contemplating  marriage,  is  for  the  gift  of  a  be- 
lieving wife  or  husband.  Here  is  a  book  of  medita- 
tions by  Sigismund  Seberantz,  Lunenburg,  1648. 
Another  volume  is  composite  in  character,  containing 
hymns,  prayers  and  meditations,  by  Balthazar  Bey- 
schlag,  Niirnberg,  1699. 

The  well-known  Hucbiicrs  Bible  Stories  follows,  by 
John  Huebner,  Rector  at  Hamburg,  printed  in  Leip- 
zig, 1 72 1.  This  has  been  frequently  translated,  and 
was  immensely  popular.      Here,  also,  are  copies  of 


Wk 


'*|l| 


♦        '•  ■ '.  n  .' 


;  \ 


4i^ 


>1l 


i  'i»? 


!■{ 


h^ll  I 


"■H. 


iji 


266 


ACADIK    AN'D   THE   ACADIANS. 


Luther's  Small  Catechism  in  variety ;  one  issued  in 
Magdeburg,  1732;  another  in  Stuttgart,  1746;  another 
in  Philadelphia,  1782;  another  in  Germantown,  from 
the  press  of  Christopher  Sauer,  1752;  and  yet  another 
printed  in  Halifax  by  our  old  friend  Anthony  Iiancr\-, 
the  Louisbourg  fifer,  in  1798. 

One  of  the  finest  specimens  of  the  printer's  art  to  be 
found  anywhere  is  a  copy  of  John  Arndt's  Par  adds 
Gacrtlein,  issued  at  Frankfort-on-the-Main  by  the 
heirs  of  Anthony  Hummen,  1664,  with  edges  worn 
and  brown,  the  cover  repaired  by  some  hand  unskilled 
in  the  use  of  the  wax-end  and  awl  with  which  the 
work  was  done ;  with  altogether  a  most  uninviting 
exterior,  its  pages  present  a  continual  succession  of 
surprises.  The  impression  must  have  been  one  of  the 
first  taken  from  the  type.  Every  line,  point  and  letter 
is  as  clear  as  a  copper-plate  engraving.  No  modern 
press-work  can  surpass  it.  Arndt  was  fortunate  in  his 
publishers.  Here  is  another  copy,  in  miniature,  of  the 
same  work,  Niirnberg,  1731,  in  which  the  engraved 
frontispiece  is  certainly  creditable  to  the  age  in  which 
it  was  put  forth  ;  but  its  typography  is  not  equal  to 
that  of  the  Frankfort  edition  of  1664.  In  fact,  I  have 
never  seen  anything  in  the  printer's  art  superior  to  it. 

Books  of  sermons  on  the  Epistles  and  Gospels  for 
the  Sundays  and   Festiv^als  of  the  Church  Year  were 


Hi 


BOOKS   THE    FATHERS    KF.AD. 


267 


numerous.  Here  are  Rcden  von  Gottfried  Arnold^ 
Leipzig,  1773  ;  Cabhtet-Predigtcn,  von  Gottlieb  Cobern, 
2  vols.,  under  the  patronage  of  Frederick,  Prince  of 
Saxe-Gotha,  1768;  a  Commentary  on  the  New  Testa- 
ment, by  Carl  Heinrich  von  Bogatzky,  2  vols.,  Halle, 
printed  at  the  Orphan  House,  1755.  Here  also  in 
classical  hog-skin  are  Postille,  von  Spangenberg,  with 
a  preface  by  Dr.  Martin  Luther,  printed  at  Wittenberg, 
1 599.  And  finally,  a  ponderous  tome  by  Nicolaus 
Selnecker  in  explanation  of  the  Psalms  of  David. 
The  opening  page  is  embellished  with  a  woodcut  of 
the  Psalmist,  with  a  crown  on  his  head,  a  harp  in  his 
hands,  singing  we  know  not  what;  while  the  opposite 
page  is  devoted  to  an  introduction  to  the  whole  Psalter 
in  the  form  of  a  rhymed  lyric  by  Hans  Sachs.  The 
explanation  of  the  first  Psalm,  which  is  entitled  "  Eine 
kurtzt  Auszlegiingl'  takes  up  just  eighteen  pages  in 
that  book,  thirteen  inches  long  by  eight  inches  wide ; 
which  gives  a  fair  idea  of  the  ancient  German  estimate 
of  brevity.  The  other  psalms  are  elucidated  with 
similar  conciseness  At  the  conclusion  of  the  one 
hundred  and  fiftieth,  the  publisher,  Christophorum 
Hauszler,  devotes  a  page,  Soli  Deo  Gloria;  printed 
in  Niirnberg,  1565.  One  of  the  woodcuts  shows  Sel- 
necker playing  the  organ :  the  boy  who  manipulates 
the  bellows  is  looking  at  David,  who  is  still  clinging 


'  !<. 


>V 


,fi 


II     1 

i 


! 


268 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


i  V 


to  the  harp,  with  an  expression  which  might  be  inter- 
preted to  mean  that  himself,  Selnecker  and  the  organ 
are  rather  an  iniprovcnicnt  on  l)<i\  id  and  the  harp. 
At  any  rate,  the  cut  gives  us  an  idea  of  what  a  first- 
class  pipe-organ  was  three  hundred  and  twenty  odd 
years  ago,  for  the  book  is  at  least  so  old. 

And  all  these  books  above  enumerated  and  de- 
scribed have  been  collected  from  the  descendants  of 
the  Lunenburg  settlers.  They  tell  us  what  the  fathers 
(ed  their  souls  upon  in  the  days  of  their  terrible  trials. 
These  of  which  the  sketch  has  been  presented,  are 
almost  a  complete  catalogue  of  the  books  our  ances- 
tors read  by  the  light  of  the  log  fire  or  the  flamiiig 
fish-oil  lamp.  As  compared  with  the  wish-wasii, 
milk-and-water  literature  of  the  average  reader  of  to- 
day, they  were  the  strong  meat  upon  which  mc/i  are 
nourished.  These  books  the  fathers  treasured,  used 
and  transmitted  as  sacred  heirlooms  to  their  children. 
They  esteemed  them,  as  they  are  indeed,  worth  their 
weight  in  gold.  Out  of  the  archives  of  the  Lutheran 
church  in  Lunenburg  was  sent,  recently,  a  copy  of  the 
first  edition  ever  issued  of  the  Lutheran  Confessional 
Books,  to  the  Theological  Seminary  in  Philadelphia. 
It  is  a  question  whether  there  is  another  in  Canada 
or  the  United  States.  We  treasure  those  wonderful 
old  volumes   now  even   more  than  the  fathers  did; 


BOOKS    THE    FATHERS    READ. 


269 


although  some  persons  there  be  yet,  even  as  there 
were  in  Lunenburg  one  hundred  years  ago,  who 
wonder  why.  It  would  be  useless  to  explain.  A 
blind  man  cannot  understand  colors,  nor  can  a  deaf 
man  appreciate  the  harmony  of  sweet  sounds. 


I- 

,1  ^  '1 


:  V 

<     »5 


t        ' 


k'-iJ 


i:  1 


K    ^. 


»     1 


T' 


Si'' ill 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


1       I 


■!'    i 


BRYZELIUS. 

A  FTER  the  death  of  Mr.  Vincent,  which  Jung  says 
^^^  took  place  in  October  1765,  the  Rev.  Paulus 
Bryzelius  came  to  Lunenburg  as  English  and  German 
mi''Sionary.  As  this  gentleman  has  taken  a  prominent 
position  in  the  early  history  of  the  town,  I  have  been 
at  some  pains  to  trace  his  previous  career  and  inquire 
into  his  antecedents,  the  result  of  which  inquiry  is  here 
appended.  The  Rev.  Dr.  W.  J.  Mann,  Archivarius  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Ministerium  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Professor  of  Ethics  and  Hebrew  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  of  Philadelphia,  writes  thus  of 
him:  **  In  Penn.sylvania  he  appears  first  as  a  Moravian 
minister  whom  the  Swedish  Provost,  Von  Wrangel, 
convinced  that  he  had  to  leave  the  Moravian  connec- 
tion. This  was  in  1760."  It  will  be  remembered  here, 
in  speaking  of  the  Moravians,  that  their  practice  at 
that  time  was  marked  by  many  extravagances  which 
at  a  later  period  were  completely  removed.  They 
were    known    as  "  Zinzendorfers "    from    their   leader 

Nicholas  Louis  Count  Von  Zinzendorf,  and  were  at 

(270) 


BRYZELIUS. 


271 


that  time  the  occasion  of  much  trouble  to  the  Lutli- 
cran  pastors  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  C.  W.  Schaefifer  says*  :  "  A  certain 
Paul  Bryzelius,  a  young  man,  a  native  of  Sweden,  well 
educated,  of  good  parts  and  of  upright  character,  luu- 
ing  been  brought  under  the  influence  of  some  who 
were  not  friendly  to  the  Lutheran  Church,  appeared  to 
be  acting  as  their  instrument  in  an  attempt  to  draw  off 
the  Swedish  Church  at  Racoon,  in  New  Jersey. 
Von  Wrangel  had  approached  him  in  the  Name  and 
Word  of  the  Lord.  BryzeHus  saw  his  error,  was  con- 
vinced, repented  of  it,  and  under  the  advice  of  Von 
Wrangel,  appeared  before  the  Conference  with  a 
prayer  for  admission  into  the  fellowship  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church.  Afljr  a  thorou£{h  examination  of  the 
case  before  the  iMinisterium,  Bryzelius  declared,  in 
writing,  that,  having  been  thorough!)'  convinced  of  his 
error,  and  having  heartily  abandoned  it,  he  solemnly 
bound  himself,  upon  his  admission  into  the  Minister- 
rium  of  the  Swedes  and  German  Lutherans  of  Penn- 
sylvania, to  teach  notiiing  but  what  was  based  upon 
the  Word  of  God,  to  conform,  in  all  his  ministrations, 
to  our  Symbolical  Books,  and  to  comply  with  the 
order  of  said  Ministeriimi.  This  document  was  signed 
in  the  presence  of  the  Ministerium,  by  ijryzelius  him- 


■i  i 


<i  1: 


■VI 


II     .  >  I 

<     M 


*  Early  History  of  the  I, utlieran  Church  hi  .America,  p\j.  38,  39. 


272 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


self,  and  by  Muhlenberg,  Von  Wrangcl  and  Gerok 
as  witnesses.  The  whole  ceremony  was  appropriately 
terminated  with  prayer  that  the  brother  thus  restored 
to  the  Church  might,  by  the  grace  of  God,  be  an  in- 
strument for  bringing  many  souls  to  the  Saviour  of 
the  world. 

From  the  result  it  might  be  argued  that  the  divine 
blcosing  rested  upon  these  measures.  Bryzelius  went 
to  the  church  in  New  Germantown,  New  Jersey, 
labored  with  much  acceptance  amongst  his  people, 
and  was  held  in  honor  both  by  his  Swedish  and  Ger- 
man brethren,  for  his  faithfulness."* 

In  the  list  of  clergymen  at  the  meeting  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania  Ministerium,   held   at  Philadelphia  June   27, 

1762,  his  name  appears — Rev.  Pastor  Bryzelius,  of 
Raritan,  New  Jersey,  f 

Dr.  Mann  says:  "  A  passage  on  oa^ic  1  1:  •; J.  of  the 
Halle  Reports  indicates  that  he  had  bcca  ni  former 
years  acquainted  with  Whitefield,  to  whom,  Nov.  9, 

1763,  at  Philadelphia,  he,  with  Muhlenberg,  paid  a 
visit.  They  were  kindly  received  by  him,  Bryzelius 
had  known  Whitefield  in  England  and  Ireland.  I 
suppose  at  that  time  he  was  in  those  countries  serving 
the  lvio«ci  n'^iiis  as  one  of  their  missionaries." 


*  Kalle  Ret»orb-;  n.  853. 


I5KVZELIUS.  273 

Quoting  II.  M.  Muhlenberg,*  Dr.  Mann  continues: 
"  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  erudition,  good  talent, 
and  honest  purpose.  In  July,  1/6 1,  he  left  Pennsyl- 
vania for  the  congregations  at  New  Germantown  and 
Hedmin.ster  in  New  Jersey.  Synod  sent  him  there  for 
a  year  as  a  period  of  probation.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg, 
Pracscs,  furnished  him  with  a  letter  of  introduction  to 
the  vestries.  He  had  proved  himself  already  quite 
useful.  There,  also,  his  wife  is  commended  as  a 
person  of  good  Christian  character. 

In  March,  1762,  he,  with  the  Rev.  N.  Kurtz,  camj 
to  Philadelphia,  to  confer  with  the  Revs.  II.  M. 
Muhlenberg  and  Von  Wrangel  about  the  spiritual 
condition  and  necessities  of  the  Lutheran  congrega- 
tions in  New  Jersey  and  New  York."]" 

"  In  the  'Papers  relating  to  the  Church  in  Pennsyl- 
vania,' privately  printed  by  the  late  Bishop  Perry, 
l87i,"says  Dr.  Mann,  "I  discover  that  Rev.  Bryzeliu^ 
A.  D.  1766,  Dec.  18,  was  recommended,  by  the  Re\ 
Dr.  O.  Smith,  as  'a  worthy  man  who  had  had  Lutn- 
eran  ordination,'  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  'in  pur- 
suance of  the  desire  of  the  Society  directed  to  .vir. 
Peters  and  myself  to  send  some  person  capable  of 
ofificiating    in  English  and  German,  in   Nova  Scotia. 

*•  Halle  Reports,  p.  853. 
f  Halle  Rej>orts,  p.  887. 
18 


'  ml 

?!  % 


'  fill 

■a 


i 


if*  i.  ■  r 


'  1 


m 


4    V 


,1 

f  i     1 
L 
\'. 
'i ' 

t 

1  * 

i," 

1. 

i 

1 

n^'i' 


274 


ACADIE   AND    TH  K    ACADIANS. 


His  credentials  are  signed  by  the  Rev.  H.  M.  Muhlen- 
berg, the  head  of  the  numerous  body  of  Lutherans  in 
this  province,  and  by  the  Rev.  Von  Wrangel,  co- 
missionary  to  the  Swedish  congregations;  both  men 
worthy  of  all  credit  from  your  Lordship.  Bryzelius 
has  often  preached  among  our  English  congregations 
to  their  satisfaction.' " 

The  Society  above  mentioned  is  the  "  Societas  dc 
Proinovciida  Cognitiouc  C//m/'/,"  London ;  the  Rev. 
Peters  spoken  of  was  then  Rector  of  the  Philadelphia 
l^^piscopal  Christ's  Church. 

With  this  light  upon  the  past  career  of  t..e  Rev. 
Mr.  Bryzelius,  we  are  now  in  a  position  to  understand 
better  the  later  develornients  of  his  histor^.  But  in 
the  meantime,  1765,  Jung  says,  '*  We  began  to  hew 
timbers  in  order  to  build  a  church,  in  connection  with 
the  Reformed  {Rcformirt)\  but  as  soon  as  our  enviers 
discovered  this,  they  began  to  use  all  the  nxwns  in 
their  power  to  hinder  us.  And  they  succeeded  in 
a';iin  frustrating  our  efforts."  Not  a  word  of  com- 
plaint. 

From  the  Reports  of  the  Society  we  learn  that  "  the 
Rev.  Paulus  Bryzelius,  a  Lutheran  minister,  was 
ordained  by  the  Bishop  of  Lon  on  to  the  charge  of 
the  German  mission  at  Lunenburg,  in  1767.  At 
Easter,  1768,  he  brought  forty-six  young  persons  for 


n 


;i8 


BRY2ELIUS. 


275 


the  first  time  to  the  Holy  Communion.  Every  Sun- 
day he  conducted  services  three  times,  preaching  in 
EngHsh  at  ten  o'clock,  in  French  at  twelve,  and  in 
German  at  two.  At  his  request  a  supply  of  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer  in  the  German  language  was  sent 
out  by  the  S.  P.  G.,  for  the  use  of  his  congregation." 
One  of  these  books  is  now  before  me;  printed  by  W. 
P'aden  and  E.  Heydinger,  London,  1771.  He  also 
translated  Luther's  Catechism,  probably  into  English 
or  French.  Whether  this  translation  was  ever  pub- 
lished I  do  not  know,  as  I  have  never  seen  a  copy. 

!  now  return  to  Jung's  manuscript,  whici  ays  of 
Bryzelius,  "  He  was  by  birth  a  Swede.  He  adminis- 
tered the  Holy  Sacrament  for  the  first  time  according 
to  the  doctrine  and  usage  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  as  given  in  our  Agemiaey 

We  cannot  fail  to  be  mindful  here  of  the  emotions  of 
joy  and  gratitude  which  must  have  been  stirred  in  the 
hearts  of  these  pious  Germans,  when,  after  a  period  of 
eighteen  years,  they  now  for  the  first  time  had  an 
opportunity  to  receive  the  Lord's  Supper,  which  was 
to  them  the  dearest  treasure  and  the  crown  of  their 
faith,  at  the  hands  of  one  whom  they  were  given  to 
regard  as  of  like  faith  with  themselves,  in  the  order 
and  manner  to  which  they  had  been  trained  from  their 
youth.     As  the  celebration  of  the  Holy  Communion 


*  ■  ,1 
»•■■ 


■W 


'i 


>  1 


.'.;  m 


-III 


'  1; 


•'  ' 


2/6 


ACADtE   AND   THR   ACADIAN'S. 


w' 


was  to  them  in  itself  the  holiest  act  of  fellowship  with 
God  and  with  each  other,  this  day  would  be  to  them 
the  gladdest  of  all  their  sojourn  in  the  wilderness,  and 
would  be  marked  by  emotions  too  deep  for  words, 
I  have  no  doubt  tears  of  thanksgiving  flowed  around 
the  altar  f  God  that  day.  For  the  really  pious 
German,  deep,  sympathetic,  trustful,  clings  with  a 
tenacity  at  once  touching  and  heroic  to  the  eternal 
verities  of  his  most  holy  religion.  The  severest  blow 
that  can  be  dealt  him  is  the  one  that  strikes  his  faith 
]r,  God  and  the  sacred  ordinances  of  the  Scripture. 
And  when  once  he  is  thoroughly  enlightened  as  to 
what  the  true  doctrines  of  God's  Word  are,  and  fully 
convinced  of  their  divine  authority,  he  would  rather 
die  than  desert  tbem.  Such  was  the  mind  of  the 
faithful  in  the  little  band  at  lAinenburg.  For  this 
they  had  waited  and  prayed  and  contended  these 
eighteen  long  years.  And  for  this  they  now  hailed 
the  newly-come  pastor  with  unfeigned  delight  and 
rallied  round  him  to  a  man,  for  his  teaching  was  pure 
and  his  doctrine  in  accord  with  the  truths  of  God's 
Word  as  set  forth  in  the  Augsburg  Confession  and 
the  other  Symbblical  Books  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
And  this  was  only  what  they  had  a  right  to  expect 
from  him  as  from  a  Lutheran  pastor,  for  as  such  in 
name  and  intention  he  made  his  appearance  among 
them. 


BRVZEMUS. 


'^11 


1 

1 

\\ 

1 

1 

i 

1- 

'4 

"Then,"  says  Jung,  "  he  took  our  children  for  in- 
struction preparatory  to  confirmation  and  communion, 
from  both  Lutheran  and  Refor}>iirt,  but  instructed 
them  in  the  Church  of  Enc^land  doctrine,  and  admin- 
istered to  them  the  Sacrament  after  the  Church  of 
l^ngland's  form.  Tiiat  gave  immediate  cause  for 
complaint  and  occasioned  an  open  rupture  in  the 
congregation." 

It  has  long  been  the  custom  with  a  certain  class  of 
writers,  in  the  Lutheran  Church  and  out  of  it,  to  con- 
done such  offences  against  doctrine  in  the  supposed 
interests  of  peace,  and  to  cry  out  against  any  one  lift- 
ing up  the  voice  to  expose,  denounce  and  protest 
against  them.  But  is  that  wisdom  ?  "  The  wisdom 
that  is  from  above  \s  first  pure,  tlien  peaceable."  Bry- 
zelius  had  betrayed  these  Lutheran  people.  He  did  it 
in  the  interest  of  union,  that  they  might  conform  to 
tile  established  church  for  the  sake  of  convenience,  as 
he  had  done. 

And  because  they  did  not  throw  to  the  winds  their 
convictions  of  right  and  their  clear  perception  of  the 
truth  of  divine  revelation,  again  they  are  accounted 
bigots  forsooth,  and  obstinate  "  Dutchmen-,"  fit  to  re- 
ceive onl)'  maledictions  and  outrage  from  their  self- 
constituted  superiors  in  religious  afHiirs.  The  Ger- 
mans  would   not  "  conform."     This   was   the  sum  of 


.#' 


i 


;  t^ 


'« 


4 


!! 

"  *  M 

Mr 


27S 


ACADIli   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


their  offending;-.  And  for  this,  although  they  were 
made  to  suffer  in  many  ways,  their  descendants  ought 
to  be  always  thankful. 

Had  they  then  and  there  submitted  to  the  ecclesias- 
tical yoke  so  skillfully  placed  on  their  necks  by  the 
artful  Bryzelius,  there  would  have  been  union,  but 
there  would  not  have  been  unity.  It  would  have  been 
uniformity  made  possible  only  b)'  the  sacrifice  of  prin- 
ciple. A  union  based  on  the  fundamental  principles 
of  the  Christian  faith,  brought  about  by  a  general  con- 
sent to  the  laws  of  right  and  ju.stice;  a  true,  hearty, 
doctrinal  unity,  in  which  all  agree  that  the  revelation 
of  God  and  not  human  opinion  shall  be  the  final  ar- 
biter; wherein  all  parties  concerned  are  of  one  accord 
and  of  one  mind,  holding  one  Confession  of  Faith  with 
one  understanding  of  that  Confession,  is  a  union  that 
will  endure  and  bring  unending  blessing  to  all  gath- 
ered into  its  embrace.  But  the  so-called  Alliances, 
As.sociations  and  Unions  of  our  day,  wherein  people  of 
widely  divergent  views  on  fundamental  things  meet  on 
platforms  so  broad  that  Jews,  atheists,  infidels,  Mo- 
hammedans, and  Turks  can  stand  with  them  as  Christ- 
ians, posing  in  the  name  of  religion  and  in  the  attitude 
of  brotherly  love,  are  mere  ecclesiastical  combinations, 
in  which  each  one  hopes  to  gain  some  selfish  advant- 
age over  the  others  ;  a  sham,  a  fraud,  a  delusion  and  a 


BKVZELIL'S. 


2/9 


■i:      ' 

:■'  '1 

snare.  Let  us,  as  Chrijrtians,  have  unity  of  doctrine; 
then  we  are  one,  never  before.  Let  us,  like  these 
stern  old  Lutherans  of  Lunenburj^,  stand  fast  in  our 
day  and  generation,  and  highly  honor  the  heroic  for- 
titude with  which  they  separated  themselves  from  one 
who,  for  the  petty  rewards  of  position  and  worldly  ad- 
vantage, proved  himself  a  traitor  to  the  faith  and 
practice  which  he  had  sworn  to  maintain. 

Bryzelius,  true  to  nothing  but  the  inconsistency  of 
his  former  record,  had  deserted  and  denied  the  Luth- 
eran faith,  if  ever  he  fully  held  it,  and  was  now  lending 
himself  to  lead  these  Lutherans  of  Lunenburg  away 
with  him.  But  they  knew  what  the  true  teaching  of 
God's  Word  was,  and  as  they  valued  their  souls  and 
hoped  for  their  salvation,  they  could  not  give  it  up. 
They  had  been  rooted  and  grounded  in  that  most  holy 
faith  in  the  days  of  their  childhood  and  youth,  and  the 
harsh  experiences  of  their  later  years  had  taught  them 
its  value  and  made  them  esteem  it  all  the  more. 
They  loved  the  soul-saving  truths  of  their  Confession 
of  Faith  with  the  love  that  was  dear  n*  than  life.  And 
chief  among  the  articles  of  that  Confession  was  that  of 
this  very  doctrine  concerning  the  Holy  Communion. 
Around  it  gather  the  doctrines  concerning  the  Per- 
son of  Christ,  which  are  the  heart  and  hfe  of  the 
Christian  religion.     With  hearts  fixed  upon  this  truth 


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280 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACAPIANS. 


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III 


as  the  veritable  gift  of  God,  they  could  not  give  it  up, 
and  they  did  not  give  it  up.  They  clung  to  it  with  a 
tenacity  of  purpose  that  is  beyond  all  praise. 

Says  Jung:  "Immediately  after  Bryzelius  had 
thrown  off  the  mask  under  which  he  had  come  among 
us — for  he  had  been  only  masquerading  as  a  Lutheran 
minister — we  began  once  more  to  hold  our  meetings 
in  private  houses  as  we  had  been  doing  before.  We 
met  together  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Melchoir  Broome  in 
the  Northwest  Range,  where  we  engaged  in  de- 
votional exercises,  which  consisted  in  reading  a  ser- 
mon, singing  and  prayer.  Then  we  consulted  to- 
gether among  ourselves  as  to  what  should  be  done. 
This  meeting  for  consultation  was  held  on  the  third 
Ivaster  day  of  the  year  1768." 

Observe  the  almost  inconceivable  deception  quietly 
set  down  here  as  an  assured  fact,  that  after  Brvzelius 
had  gone  to  London  and  taken  ordination  in  the 
Church  of  England,  he  should  be  represented  to  these 
German  people  as  a  Lutheran  minister :  it  is  mon- 
strous! Observe  further  that  the  date  of  this  meet- 
ing of  the  Lutherans  at  Melchoir  B»*oome's  is  signifi- 
cant. It  was  held  just  two  days  after  the  confirmation 
and  communion  above  noted  as  forming  part  of  the 
flattering  report  to  the  London  Society;  just  time 
enough  for  them  to  realize  their  position,  get  the 
word  out  among  themselves,  and  come  together. 


m 


BKYZELIUS. 


28  [ 


We  now  hasten  to  conclude  what  part  of  our  history 
centers  about  this  gifted,  strangely  constituted  man. 
Me  was  struck  with  apoplexy  in  the  pulpit  while 
preaching,  on  the  ninth  of  April,  being  Good  Friday 
1773,  aged  sixty.  Of  his  interment  the  record  states 
that  "  he  was  buried  under  the  pulpit,  wherein,  in- 
deed, he  died."  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  resided 
wliere  the  late  Matthew  Ernst  lived,  in  that  suburb  of 
Lunenburg  now  known  as  Newtown.  Of  his  descend- 
ants we  know  nothing,  except  that  he  probably  left  a 
son  named  Paul,  which  fact  we  glean  from  the  fol- 
lowing entry  in  the  records  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
of  Lunenburg,  Vol.  II.,  1803,  No.,  83:  "  Edward,  son 
of  Paul  Bryzelius  and  Sophia  his  wife,  born  August 
18,  1803,  baptized  by  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Schmeisser; 
Sponsors,  Ed.  Molk  and  DorotJiea  his  wife."  It  is 
my  conjecture  that  the  aforesaid  Dorothea  was  a 
daughter  of  Bryzelius. 

He  has  gone  to  his  Maker  and  Judge,  and  his 
works  do  follow  him;  a  minister  either  without  clear 
convictions  of  doctrinal  truth  or  without  a  conscience. 


m 


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'  "!1 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

CALLING  A  MINISTER. 

JUNG'S  record  continues ;  "  There  were  present  at 
this  meeting  some  twenty  men.  They  resolved  to 
select  six  of  their  number  to  present  their  case  to  the 
Government.  They  were  instructed  to  set  forth  that 
we  have  now  waited  eighteen  years  for  a  minister; 
that  our  youth  are  now  grown  up;  that  some  were 
even  married  and  the  parents  of  children,  and  yet  have 
not  been  confirmed,  nor  ever  received  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. For  this  we  cannot  answer  to  God,  that  our  chil- 
dren are  growing-up  like  wild  men  and  heathens. 
We  want  a  mini.ster.  We  ask  permission  to  write  for 
one.  We  will  pay  him.  We  want  assistance  from 
the  Government  only  in  procuring  a  minister." 

This  application  to  the  authorities,  it  would  appear, 
was  made  in  due  form  and  according  to  their  instruc- 
tions by  the  commissioners  appointed;  for  the  writer 
goes  on  at  once  to  say  :  "  But  instead  of  assistance  and 
encouragement,  they  threw  all  manner  of  hindrances  in 
our  way,  and  pressed  us  hard  for  an  explanation  as  to 

what  we  did  believe,  that  we  must  have  a  minister  of 

( 282) 


•H 


CALLiNCi   A    MIMSTIiK. 


283 


our  own  faith.  Then  one  of  our  number"  (probably 
Jung  himself)  "  was  obliged  to  repeat  before  the  au- 
thorities our  Confession  of  Faith,  /.  c.  that  we  believe 
we  take  in  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  with  and  under  the 
consecrated  bread  and  wine,  the  true  body  and  blood  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The  highest  officer  in  the 
Government  declared  this  could  not  be — but  we  held 
firmly  to  our  fiiith."  How  naturally,  in  view  of  a 
scene  like  this,  the  mnid  of  the  Christian  reverts  to  the 
words  of  our  Saviour  in  the  Gospel  by  St.  Matthew — 
"  Ye  shall  be  brought  before  governors  and  kings  for 
My  sake,  for  a  testimony  against  them."* 

"Then  we  received  as  our  answer  that  they  would 
not  assist  us,  nor  would  they  sign  (endorse)  our  call 
as  we  desired.  We  then  held  another  meeting,  at 
which  were  present  nine  and  thirty  men.  These 
bound  themselves  together  to  write  to  the  Rev.  H.  M. 
Muhlenberg  of  Philadelphia,  for  a  pastor.  This  we 
did  immediately,  but  we  never  received  an  answer. 
On  the  twenty-ninth  of  March,  1769,  we  again  wrote 
to  Philadelphia,  but  again  received  no  answer.  Let- 
ters did  come  here  from  Philadelphia,  but  we  never 
could  find  out  anything,  because  these  letters  always 
fell  into  other  hands." 

"In  1770  we  began,  with  the  help  of  God,  to  hew 


(Matt,  x:  i6-20.)| 


f  . 


(i- 


.       \>' 


.'M  ' 


ii| 


'■;« 


■  Si 


i:i 


ii 


w 


284 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


timbers  for  our  new  church,  and  brought  them  into 
town.  We  engaged  workmen,  and  the  frame  was 
raised  on  the  twenty-second  of  May  in  the  same  year, 
after  which  it  was  roofed  and  weather- boarded." 

The  same  year  Mr.  Umstatt  removed  from  here  to 
New  York,  and  we  gave  him  authority  in  writing  to 
find  a  minister,  and  send  him  to  us.  He  represented 
our  forlorn  condition  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gerock,  who  had 
compassion  on  us  and  wrote  to  us.  His  letter  here 
follows  and  reads  thus: 

gerock's  letter. 

" '  Honorable  Sirs  and  Dearly  Beloved  Brethren  in  the 
Faith: — Your  authorized  messenger  for  obtaining  an 
Evangelical  Lutheran  minister,  Mr.  George  Umstatt, 
came  to  me  the  day  before  yesterday  with  his  letters 
of  inquiry  after  an  Evangelical  High  German  minister 
needed  for  Lunenburg,  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  to  get  ad- 
vice from  me  thereon.  According  to  his  assurances 
and  letters,  the  congregation  there  is  helpless,  and 
without  an  authorized  minister  or  competent  teacher. 
Therefore  you  have  repeatedly  approached  the  Rev. 
Muhlenberg  with  your  petitions.  Neither  answers 
nor  the  wished-for  help  followed  your  petitions. 
Now  many  of  your  best  settlers  seem  to  be  tired  of 
the  life  there  without  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel, 


.1  . . 


CALLING   A   MINISTER. 


285 


and  without  any  proper  instruction  in  religious 
matters.  The  aged  are  not  edified  nor  the  youth  in- 
structed according  to  the  tenets  of  our  holy  religion  as 
set  forth  in  llic  Augsburg  Confession. 

"  I  therefore  consider  it  my  duty  and  office,  upon 
the  representations  and  pleas  of  your  authorized 
messenger,  to  interest  myself  and  take  measures  in 
behalf  of  your  congregation.  If  now  the  *  Mr.  Eng- 
lishmen' (meaning  the  Government  officials  in  the 
Church  of  England),  permit  it,  and  it  is  your  liberty 
and  privilege  to  have  a  minister  of  our  most  holy 
Evangelical  religion,  and  if  you  wish  it,  so  that  your- 
selves and  your  descendants,  for  the  welfare  of  your 
souls,  may  be  instructed  and  improved,  I  think  it  ad- 
visable and  in  place  for  me  to  make  you  this  offer :  I 
will,  according  to  your  idea,  wish  and  desire,  help 
you  to  secure  a  thorough,  able,  well-experienced, 
upright,  suitable  Evangelical  Lutheran  pastor,  cither 
from  Pennsylvania  or  from  the  Duchy  of  Wiirtemburg, 
whichever  you  prefer.  I  will  try  to  secure  a  man  ot 
from  thirty  to  forty  years  of  age,  with  a  small  family. 
Next  Spring,  if  he  will  accept  the  call,  he  shall  go  to 
Lunenburg  and  begin  his  labors  among  you. 

**  If  now,  the  enclosed  conditions  seem  reasonable 
and  right  to  you,  you  shall  first  have  a  meeting  of  the 
whole  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation,  and  after 


H 


I 


h 


hi 


286 


ACADIE   AN'I)    Tin:    ACADIANS. 


!.: 


M 


III 


.vn 

it- 


I' 


llii 


due  deliberation  and  consideration  in  the  sight  of  God, 
you  shaU  draw  up  a  legal,  Christian  call  for  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  minister  whom  T,  according  to  your 
desire  and  request,  shall  conscientiously  recommend 
and  send  to  you.  The  place  for  his  name  (in  the  call) 
shall  be  left  blank,  so  that  I  can  myself  put  it  in  and 
fill  up  the  blank.  I  make  this  arrangement  because 
there  are  two  whom  I  have  in  view.  The  conditions 
shall  be  set  forth  in  the  call.  Tiie  six,  eight,  or  ten 
deacons  shall  sign  it  for  themselves  and  in  the  name 
of  the  congregation,  for  a  time  indefinite;  or,  so  long 
as  the  minister  shall  teach  true  Christian  doctrine,  and 
faithfully,  according  to  his  ability,  discharge  the  duties 
of  his  office.  In  case  he  fail  in  this  (from  which  may 
God  in  His  mercy  preserve  us!)  an  Evangelical,  Right 
Reverend  Ministerium  or  Consistory  shall  adjudicate 
to  maintain  or  restore  peace  and  order. 

"  It  would  be  well  to  have  the  call  witnessed  by  a 
couple  of  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  attested  with  their 
signature  and  official  seal.  You  can  send  your  letters 
to  Mr.  Frederick  Kiihl,  merchant,  in  Philadelphia,  or 
to  Mr.  Wm.  Hoffiiian,  merchant,  in  the  same  place. 
The  sooner  you  write  the  better.  As  soon  as  I  can 
learn  the  decision  of  one  or  the  other  of  these  minis- 
ters to  accept  such  a  call,  I  will  inform  you.  In  the 
mean  time  leave  the  whole  matter  to  the  merciful 


CALLING    A    MINLSTKR. 


287 

Trust  in  the 


kindness  and  good  providence  of  God. 
Lord,  and  all  will  be  well. 

"  With  my  kindly  Greetings,  I  am 
"  Your  most  willing 

**  Friend  and  Servant, 

"JoHANN  Siegfried  Gerock, 
"Pastor  of  the  High  German  Evangelical  congrega- 
tion of  Christ's  Church. 

'*NrcV  York,  x\Ngiist  ijih,  1770. 

"The  conditions  specified  in  this  letter  here  follow: 

"  I.  Each  year  ;^50  Nova  Scotia  lawful  money;  each 
pound  to  be  equal  in  value  to  four  Spanish  dollars. 

"  2.  Forty  bushels  of  grain — half  corn,  half  wheat. 

"  3.  A  decent,  comfortable  and  commodious  par- 
sonage, free  of  rent. 

"4.  Twenty  cords  of  good  firewood  delivered  at  the 
house. 

"  5.  The  produce  of  a  cultivated  thirty-acre  lot;  and 
in  the  event  of  his  death,  the  free  use  of  the  same  for 
his  widow  and  orphans,  together  with  a  charitable 
donation  from  a  grateful  congregation,  for  their  Chris- 
tian maintenance. 

"  6.  The  perquisites  shall  be  discussed  and  verbally 
agreed  upon. 

"7.  The  moving  and  traveling  expenses  shall  fall 
upon  the  congregation;  which  we  promise  honestly 
to  pay. 


r  .1 


W^-1 


^«  in 


288 


ACADIE   AN'D    THE    ACADIAXS. 


K 


m: 


\l 


'!! 


ii 


pii 


"8.  In  case  the  minister  wlio  shall  be  called,  find  the 
salary  and  means  of  living  too  scanty  for  himself  and 
family,  or  if,  perhaps,  on  account  of  war  or  other  visi- 
tation sent  from  God,  the  times  should  become  harder 
than  now,  we  promise,  as  grateful  children  to  our 
Reverend  Pastor,  and  as  honest  men,  according  to 
Christian  equity  in  such  exigency,  to  increase  the 
yearly  salary  in  the  same  proportion;  so  that  our 
Shepherd  and  Teacher  shall  not  with  us  and  on  our 
account  be  obliged  to  suffer  want,  but  that  he  who 
sows  to  us  the  seed  of  spiritual  things  shall  reap  of 
our  temporal  things.  Thus  may  we  be  pleasing  to 
God  and  to  all  his  people.     To  this  may  God  help  us  !' 

"The  foregoing  letter  we  received  on  the  first  day 
of  November,  1770,  and  we  called  together  our  congre- 
gation— now  increased  to  seventy-five  families — before 
whom  the  letter  was  read.  They  unanimously  agreed 
to  draw  up  a  call  immediately,  and  send  it  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Gerock.  We  drew  it  accordingly,  and  showed  it 
to  the  Justices  of  the  Peace,  as  Mr.  Gerock  had  re- 
cp*osted,  asking  them  at  the  same  time  for  their 
attestation  and  signature  or  endorsement,  which  they 
refused.  They  did  not  only  not  sign  our  call,  but 
made  other  opposing  presentations  to  hinder  us.  We, 
however,  sent  the  call  to  the  Rev.  Gerock,  without 
their  attestation,  on  the  7th  of  November,  1770. 


CAr.MNT,    A    MINISTER. 


289 


THE   CALL. 

"  The  Call  is  as  follows  : 

"  Whereas  we,  the  assembled  inhabitants  of  Lunen- 
burg, Nova  Scotia,  adherents  of  the  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran religion,  have  assembled  ourselves  together  with 
an  earnest  desire  to  secure  the  services  of  a  faithful 
minister,  and  fervently  calling  upon  God  that  He  would 
supply  us  with  such  an  one,  a  confessor  of  the  afore- 
mentioned Evangelical  Lutheran  religion  ;  and  to  the 
.accomplishment  of  which  there  has  been  recommended 

to  us  the  Rev.  Mr. ,  we  do  hereby  extend  to 

the  Rev.  Mr. ,  an  unanimous,  very  respectful, 

hearty  and  earnest  petition,  and  beg  that,  in  consider- 
ation of  the  fact  that  we  are  without  the  pure  teaching 
of  the  Gospel  and  the  right  administration  of  the  Sac- 
raments, and  find  ourselves  thus  forsaken,  he  would 
come  to  Lunenburg  and  accept  from  us  the  office  and 
discharge  among  us  the  duties  of  a  faithful  preacher 
and  pastor  in  our  congregation. 

"  We  live  in  the  steadfast  hope  that  our  request  will 

not  be  refused,  but  rather  that  our  heartfelt,  sincere 

petition  will  be  heard.     We  pray  that  you  will  accept 

this  offered  position,  and  take  upon  yourself  faithfully 

to  care  for  the  welfare  of  our  souls,  and  upon  these 

representations,  in  answer  to  our  petition,  come  to  us  : 

for  which  may  God's  blessing  rest  upon  you. 
19 


i 

4 


4i 


v.. 


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■  U 


H  -  .  i 


B 


i 

i: 

\: 

i 

j 

1 

" '. 

• 

1 

\         \ 

290 


ACADIE   AND   THK    ACADIANS. 


"  In  order  to  this  we  do,  by  this  instrument,  agree, 
promise,  and  bind  ourselves  to  the  above-mentioned, 
the  Rev.  Mr. ,  to  furnisli  the  means  of  main- 
taining an  orderly  and  respectable  livelihood  so  lon^ 
as  he  shall  among  us  teach,  live,  and  according  to  his 
ability,  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  pertaining  to  the 
office  of  a  minister  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church ;  and  will  agree  to  promptly  pay,  deliver  and 
allow  the  following  specified  recompense  and  emolu- 
ments year  by  year  during  his  ministry  among  us  : 

"  I.  ;^50  Halifax  currency  per  annum:  a  pound  to 
be  reckoned  at  four  Spanish  dollars. 

"  2.  Forty  bushels  of  grain :  half  rye  and  half 
barley. 

"  3.  A  commodious  and  comfortable  parsonage,  free 
of  rent. 

"  4.  Twenty  cords  of  good  firewood,  delivered  at  the 
house. 

"5.  The  perquisites  shall  be  discussed  and  verbally 
agreed  upon. 

"  6.  The  expenses  of  moving  and  traveling  we  agree 
faithfully  to  pay. 

"7.  If  the  minister  having  been  called  shall  find  this 
salary  and  means  of  living  too  scanty  for  himself  and 
his  family;  or  if,  on  account  of  War  or  other  judgment 
sent  from  God,  the  times  should  be  more  stringent  than 


L  if 


CAM.INr.    A    MINISTER. 


291 


now,  we  promise  as  grateful  children  to  our  Reverend 
Father,  and  as  honest  men,  according  to  Christian 
equity,  in  such  exigency,  to  increase  the  yearly  salary 
in  the  same  proportion;  so  that  our  Shepherd  and 
Teacher  shall  not  with  us,  and  on  our  account,  be 
obliged  to  suffer  want,  but  that  he  who  sows  to  us 
the  seed  of  spiritual  things  shall  reap  of  our  temporal 
things.  Thus  may  we  be  pleasing  to  God,  and  all  His 
j)eople.  And  to  this  may  our  Heavenly  Father  help 
us! 

"  To  give  further  assurance  of  the  keeping  of  our 
promises,  we  with  due  consideration,  by  the  authority 
and  in  the  name  of  all  the  assembled  church  members, 
do  hereunto  annex  our  names  with  our  own  hands,  in 
Lunenburg,  Nova  Scotia,  on  this  7th  day  of  November, 
1770. 

"  I.  Friederich  Arenberg. 

"  2,  Jacob  Maiirer. 

*'3.  Michael  Hauptmann. 

"4.  Andreas  Jung. 

"5.  Heinrich  Ernst. 

"6.  George  Conradt. 

"7.  Melchoir  Bromm. 

"  8.  Wendell  Wust. 

"9.  Phillip  Rodenheiszer. 

"  10.  Leonhardt  Anton  Tauber. 


•I, 
,1' 

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Mi, 


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HI".  I 


tiiii 


''Hi: 


if 


292 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


"II.  Christoph  Naasz. 

"12.  Heinrich  Vogler." 

On  the  eighteenth  of  April  1771,  we  received  a  let- 
ter from  Mr.  Unistatt,  which  was  written  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  January,  announcing  that  the  call  which  we 
sent  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gerock  had  safely  arrived,  and 
that  Mr.  Gerock  himself  had  traveled  to  Hackensack 
to  get  a  minister  for  us.  He  gave  Umstatt  authority 
to  write  to  us,  directing  us  to  send  to  him  (Rev.  G.)  a 
bill  of  exchange  for  ;^io  or  ;^I2.  We  were  unable  to 
get  a  bill  of  exchange  here,  but  made  up  the  sum  of 
;^io,  and  sent  it  to  Mr.  Henry  Kuhn  in  Halifax.  He, 
however,  had  no  safe  opportunity  to  send  the  money, 
so  it  was  left  lying  in  his  possession.  We  received  no 
further  tidings  from  there  until  Mr.  Umstatt  removed 
to  Philadelphia,  when  he  wrote  back  to  us  that  when 
he  left  Mr.  Gerock,  he  promised  to  send  a  minister, 
but  it  was  not  done ;  perhaps  because  the  money  did 
not  come  as  directed. 

We  were  now  obliged  to  send  a  man  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Muhlenberg  of  Philadelphia,  and  to  the  Minis- 
terium  of  Pennsylvania.  The  man  who  was  sent  was 
Lorenz  Conradt.  He  took  with  him  letters  and  a 
call.  He  arrived  in  Philadelphia,  July  twenty-third, 
1 77 1,  and  in  company  with  Mr.  Umstatt  waited  on 
the    Rev.   Mr.  Muhlenberg^  and   presented  our   case 


ill 


CALLING    A    MINISTER. 


293 


to  him.  After  long  pleading  and  many  entreaties, 
several  ministers  were  recommended,  with  the  under- 
standing that  they  should  fulfill  their  own  wish  and 
inclination.  They  then  had  to  make  a  journey  of 
seventy  miles  to  Lancaster,  with  letters  from  Mr. 
Muhlenberg  to  the  minister  who  had  been  proposed. 
He  refused,  urging  as  his  excuse  that  he  could  not 
leave  without  the  consent  of  his  congregation,  which 
was  not  granted.  He  then  promised,  along  with  Mr. 
Gerock,  that  he  would  present  our  case  to  the  meet- 
ing of  Synod  and  send  us  a  minister.  Our  messenger 
could  not  wait  for  the  meeting  of  Synod,  as  it  was 
already  late  in  the  season :  so  he  returned  to  us,  bring- 
ing several  letters  with  him.  After  his  departure  the 
Most  Reverend  Ministerium  assembled  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  of  September,  before  which  body  Mr.  Umstatt 
appeared  in  our  behalf;  and  it  was  at  that  meeting 
resolved  to  send  us  a  minister  in  the  spring  of  1772. 
On  the  thirtieth  of  October,  1771,  we  received  from 
the  Ministerium  an  extract  from  the  record  of  their 
proceedings,  which  here  follows : 

"Philadelphia,  28  Sept.,  177 i. 

"  In  the  beginning,  Our  Greetings  and  Blessing ! 

"Whereas,  a  number  of  Germans  hving  in  and  around  Lunenburg, 
Nova  Scotia,  loyal  subjects  of  His  Royal  Highness,  Geo.  III.,  King  of 
Great  Britain,  by  their  accredited  representative  Mr.  Umstatt,  appearing 
|)efore  the  meeting  of  the  United  Reverend  Ministerium  of  the  Evan- 


■  I 


*«l. 


^iiil 


Rl: 


294 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACAUIANS. 


gelical  Lutheran  Congregations  in  Pennsylvania  and  adjacent  Prov- 
inces, and  having  represented  to  them  both  in  writing  and  verbally, 
that  they,  by  legal  enactment,  had  liberty  to  maintain  and  extend  their 
evangelical  religion  based  upon  the  foundation  of  the  Apostles  and 
Prophets  as  set  forth  in  the  Augsburg  Confession;  to  which  end  they 
had,  out  of  their  own  means,  built  a  church,  and  now  desired  to  obtain 
from  this  Reverend  Ministerium  an  Evangelical  Lutheran  minister;  be 
it  hereby  known  to  whom  it  may  concern  that  in  the  above-mentioned 
meeting,  on  the  twenty-sixth  inst.,  it  was  unanimously 

Resolved :  "That  at  the  expense  of  the  aforesaid  congregation  a  min- 
ister should  be  sent  to  them  next  spring  (1772)  on  trial. 

"  It  was  futher  ordered  that  the  above  extract  should  be  taken  from 
the  protocol  of  Synod  and  forwarded  to  the  congregation  at  Lunenburg. 

"  Signed,  Frikderich  Schnodt, 
"  D.  G.,  Clerk  of  the  Ministerium. 

*'  With  the  Approval  of  the  Reverend  President." 


i! 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

A  LETTER  FROM  THE  PATRIARCH  MUHLENBERG  AND  A 

MANLY  REPLY. 

AS  soon  as  this  letter  was  received  a  consultation 
was  ordered,  and  on  the  following  day,  October 
thirty-first,  a  letter  was  written  and  sent  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Muhlenberg.  To  this  was  returned  the  following 
answer,  received  December  twenty-second,  177 1. 

muhlenbkrg's  letter. 

Philadelphia,  Nov.  15th,  1771. 
Honored  and  Esteemed  Sirs. 

Dear  Brethren  in  the  Faith. — Your  favor  of  the  8th 
October,  1771,  and  the  accompanying  3  Salmon  I  duly 
received  through  Mr.  Riibcl,  for  which  I  tender  my 
hearty  thanks,  regarding  them  as  tokens  of  love. 

"  Concerning  the  condition  of  your  religious  affairs 

I  have  been  fully  informed  by  your   messenger.     I 

have  been   laboring  now  30  years  in  this  American 

wilderness,  not  having  come  upon  my  own  authority, 

but  being  regularly  sent  to  gather  up  and  bring  into 

order  the  scattered    Lutherans  in    Pennsylvania.     In 

this  work  I  was  obliged  to  endure  a  great  deal  and 

(295) 


296 


ACADIE  AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


1::  '■ 


V    ■  .■ 


pass  through  many  trials,  and  must  still  suffer  daily 
until  such  time  as  it  shall  please  the  Good  Lord  to 
take  the  harness  from  me. 

"We  have  here  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  adjacent 
Provinces,  about  70  large  and  small  evangelical  con- 
gregations, living,  in  a  measure,  in  harmony  with  each 
other,  so  far  as  is  possible  in  their  widely  scattered  con- 
dition. We  are  surrounded  by  many  different  envious 
sects  and  parties,  who  wish  and  would  rather  see  the 
ruin  than  the  edifying  of  our  evangelical  congregation.^. 

"  Our  nearest  and  best  friends  and  well-wishers  arc 
the  upright,  pious  teachers,  elders  and  members  of  the 
English  Established  Church.  They  love,  protect  and 
stand  by  us  wherever  they  can,  and  we  in  turn  do  for 
them,  out  of  love,  whatever  lies  in  our  power.  They 
favor  us  and  give  us  perfect  liberty,  according  to  the 
Word  of  God,  both  to  teach  and  to  live  according  to 
the  Articles  of  our  Faith.  We  accord  to  them,  cheer- 
fully, the  preference,  because  they  have  the  Mother 
Church  which  is  established  by  law.  Their  Articles 
of  Faith  have  been  extracted  from  the  Word  of  God, 
as  well  as  ours ;  their  Church  prayers  are  taken  from 
the  Holy  Bible,  as  well  as  ours;  they  have  the  two 
Holy  Sacraments,  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  as 
well  as  we ;  their  explanations  of  their  Articles  of 
l^'aith  are  as  good  Evangelical  Lutheran  as  one  coMld 


hf  ii 


LETTER    FROM    MUHLENBERG. 


297 


wish  them  to  be  :  in  a  word,  the  doctrines  of  the 
English  Established  Church  are  more  closely  allied  to 
ours  than  those  of  any  other  denomination  in  the 
whole  world.  We,  therefore,  have  always  studied  to 
live  in  harmony  with  them.  They  allowed  the 
Swedi.sh  Lutheran  minister,  as  being  the  oldest 
Lutheran,  and  myself  also,  to  preach  in  their  church, 
and  we  allowed  them  to  preach  in  ours.  There  has 
been  no  effort  on  their  part  nor  on  ours  to  alienate 
any  of  the  other's  members,  because  of  our  close 
relationship.* 

"  One  must  not  judge  a  Church  by  one  or  another 
unworthy  minister,  but  by  its  Articles  of  Faith.  For 
example :  we  have  in  our  Church  both  in  this  country 
and  in  Europe,  many  a  preacher  who  preaches  false 
doctrine  and  lives  a  godless  life;  but  one  must  not 
blame  the  whole  Church  for  that.  2  Tim.  ii.  20. 
In  a  great  house  there  are  many  vessels ;  some  to 
honor  and  some  to  dishonor.  One  must  not  reject  or 
despise  a  whole  field  or  garden  because  it  brings  forth 
weeds  along  with  the  grain ;  one  must  not  cast  away 
a  good  new  net  because  bad  and  worthless  fishes  are 


*  Sie  haben  die  Schwedische  Herrn  Prediger  als  die  elteste  Luth- 
eraner  und  Mich  in  ihren,  wir  sie  in  unsern  Kirchen  predigen  lassen. 
Sie  haben  Uns  keine  Glieder  und  wir  ihnen  keine  abgespannt,  weil 
wir  so  nahe  verwand  sind. 


'-    t 


'  i , 


111 

I 

,:  ;■ '  ! 

,    ■  M 

■■&Jkl 


I  il 


'•(.41 


w 


1^; 


298 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


I  f 


m 


s  1 1 .  ■  I 


isn 


111' 


taken  along.  A  person  does  not  cut  down  a  good 
tree  because  it  sends  forth  here  and  there  wild  shoots. 

"My  candid  opinion  is  this:  (i)  Neither  His 
Gracious  Majesty,  the  English  Constitution,  nor  the 
law  of  the  land  at  Lunenburg,  intends  to  compel  any 
one  to  join  the  Established  Church.  They  favor  and 
give  our  Lutherans,  as  well  as  other  Protestants,  full 
freedom  to  build  their  own  churches  and  sustain  their 
own  ministers.* 

(2)  **  Now,  then,  if  there  are  one  hundred  families, 
as  it  is  said,  who  have  separated  themselves  from  the 
English  Mother  or  High  Church,  built  their  own 
church  and  want  a  regularly  ordained  Lutheran  minis- 
ter from  our  Lutheran  Ministerium,  the  kind  authori- 
ties, whom  we  must  honor  according  to  the  command 
of  God,  "ill  have  no  objection,  if  only  it  be  done  in  a 
judicious  and  orderly  manner:  namely — 

"3.  We  are  willing,  so  far  as  is  possible  in  an  orderly 
manner,  to  interest  ourselves  in  your  behalf  and  send 

*  Jung's  comment  on  this  opinion  is  :  "  Nevertheless  our  gentlemen 
have  schemed  to  rob  us  of  our  rights  and  Christian  liberty  and  bring 
us  into  the  Establi^liment  by  artifice  and  cunning.  But  it  is  written  : 
♦  They  are  dead  which  sought  the  young  child's  life.'  "  This  last  sen- 
tence in  the  MS.  is  stricken  out  with  the  pen  and  almost  illegible,  as 
though  later  developments  had  shown  the  application  of  the  expression 
in  this  case  to  have  been  premature.  They  were  not  all  dtfad  yet  who 
sought  the  young  congregation's  life. 


I   ;.  .N  . 


LETTER   FROM   MUHLENBERG. 


299 


to  the  aforesaid  congregation,  next  spring,  a  minister 
on  trial.  But  you  must  not  on  this  account  despise 
the  English  Mother  or  High  Church,  and  her  minis- 
ters and  missionaries  must  be  held  in  just  and  proper 
cs:eem;  do  not  judge  them,  but  be  friendly  and  re- 
spectful toward  them.  And  as  all  good  government 
is  ordained  of  God  and  instituted  for  the  protection  of 
peace-loving  subjects,  it  would  be  very  proper  and 
becoming  on  the  part  of  the  venerable  elders  of  our 
new  congregation  if  they  would  dutifully  and  respect- 
fully wait  upon  the  kind  authorities,  inform  them  that 
the  Evangelical  Ministerium  would  interest  itself  in 
their  behalf  and  send  them  a  properly  ordained 
Lutheran  minister,  and  they  might  add  a  few  lines  to 
the  Ministerium  in  your  favor. 

"  (4)  In  this  way  there  can  be  no  suspicion  that  you 
are  trying  to  originate  a  new  sect,  or  plotting  clandes- 
tinely and  in  the  dark;  because  our  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church  is  the  nearest  relative  to  the  English 
Mother  or  High  Church.  If  we  are  to  interest  our- 
selves in  your  behalf,  it  must  be  done  openly  and  with 
the  knowledge  of  the  kind  authorities. 

I  hope  my  brethren  in  the  faith  in  Lunenburg  do 
not  think  a  respectable  and  properly-ordained  minister 
should  not  have  the  liberty  to  associate  with  other 
orderly  ministers  in  a  Christian,  neighborly  and  gen- 


'  I 


^\ 


tv.' 
H 


■■iji 


mm 


■"AV 


300 


ACADTE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


i  f*1if 


I'i 


!-^ll!M. 


ii 

'J 


teitjili:^  f 


i  I 


teel  manner.  An  orderly  minister  who  wants  to  win 
souls  must  have  familiar  intercourse  with  the  high 
and  low,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  educated  and  the 
uneducated;  when  he  has  proper  experience  and  a 
Christian  mind. 

"  Our  Dear  Redeemer  left  us  an  example  in  this,  by 
going  among  people  of  all  cla.sses  and  conditions,  and 
always  presented  something  for  good  and  blessing. 

"  Your  messenger,  Mr.  Conradt,  perhaps  misunder- 
stood me  in  something.  Before  I  had  the  pleasure  to 
see  him  and  judge  of  his  writings,  I  dropped  a  hint  as 
if  some  unfavorable  reports  had  come  in  concerning 
him,  and  that  he  was  not  a  properly  authorized  mes- 
senger from  a  congregation  consisting  of  a  hundred 
families.  This  was  done  mainly  to  test  him,  because 
I  did  not  know  him.  Within  these  30  years  that  I 
have  been  here,  I  have  been  frequently  rapped  over 
the  knuckles  and  taught  wisdom  by  experience,  when 
I  trusted  before  I  was  sure.  As  soon  as  I  spoke  with 
him  myself  and  had  seen  his  credentials,  all  suspicions 
vanished,  and  along  with  him  I  undertook  to  do  all  for 
the  enterprise  that  lay  in  my  power.  The  honest  man 
had  trouble  enough.  He  certainly  might  have  had 
ten  for  one,  if  he  had  not  been  too  honest,  sensible  and 
shrewd  to  trouble  and  ruin  the  poor  congregation  with 
a  false-teaching  and  bad-living  preacher.     After  what 


ii 
I 

V 


LFTTF.R    FROM    MUHLRNnERG. 


30 1 


I  have  now  said,  I  beg  that  nothing  more  will  be 
thought  concerning  these  false  and  unfavorable  re- 
ports. There  must  be  neither  hatred,  envy,  quar- 
reling, nor  the  like,  springing  up  among  you;  but 
love,  peace,  meekness,  humility  and  obedience  toward 
God;  and  the  ;ood  rulers  must  reign  so  that  under 
them  we  can  live  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in  all 
godliness  and  honesty.     Amen  ! 

"I  wish  to  see  a  few  lines  in  reply  to  this;  or  if  the 
Dear  Lord  allow  me  to  live,  I  would  like  to  come  to 
you  on  a  visit,  if  you  conduct  yourselves  well. 

"  Please  extend  my  kindly  greetings  to  Knaut  and 
other  known  friends  in  Christ. 

"In  humility  I  remain  your  well  wisher  in  all  things. 

"  HEINRICH  MUHLENBERG. 


11} 


ANSWER  TO  MR.  MUHLENBERG  S  LETTER. 

"Mcsi  Honorable,  Learned  and  Worthy  Inspector  and 
Minister  of  St.  Michaets. 

"  On  the  22d  day  of  December  your  letter  to  us  was 
duly  received,  and  from  it  we  learn  that  we  should  in- 
form the  authorities  of  our  intentions.  We  have 
therefore  followed  the  advice  of  your  Reverence,  and 
lived  in  obedience  with  it. 

"First,  as  we  did  once,  and  have  already  informed 
your  Reverence,  wc  again  waited  on  the  authorities 


!;¥ 


m\ 


'H 


302 


ACADIK   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


mil  \ 


and  announced  to  them  our  intention  to  send  for  an 
Evangelical  Lutheran  minister.  They  held  up  to  us 
our  inability  to  do  so,  and  urged  us  to  wait  ten  or  fif- 
teen years. 

"Secondly,  as  we  began  to  hew  timbers  for  our 
church,  we  presented  our  case  to  them  again  and  asked 
for  a  building  site  upon  which  to  erect  our  church. 
To  this  request  we  received  no  answer. 

"  Thirdly,  we  gave  notice  to  them  that  we  intended, 
at  a  certain  specified  time,  to  raise  our  church  on  a  lot 
which  we  had  bought  for  that  purpose  and  invited  the 
authorities  to  be  present,  but  not  one  of  them  was  to 
be  seen. 

"  Fourthly,  we,  in  a  body,  did  them  the  honor  to 
notify  them  that  it  was  our  intention  to  hold  service  in 
our  newly-built  church.  They  tried  to  hinder  us  with 
the  threat  that  we  must  have  bail;  but  when  they  saw 
we  were  ready  to  let  it  come  to  law,  they  wished  us 
luck  and  blessing. 

"And  now,  at  the  last  holy  Christmas  holidays,  hav- 
ing waited  on  them  with  the  utmost  deference  and  re- 
spect, we  begged  them  most  humbly  to  be  so  kind  as 
to  give  us,  as  a  favor,  a  few  lines  to  a  praiseworthy 
Ministerium  in  Philadelphia,  that  the  Ministerium 
might  see  that  we  were  not  doing  this  without  the 
knowledge  of  our  authorities.     Our  chief  magistrate 


>. 


LETTF.R    FROM    Ml'M  T.KNBFRr.. 


303 


(who  is  by  birth  Swiss)  jrave  us  the  answer  that  he 
did  not  do  it  for  the  Reformirt  and  he  would  not  do  it 
for  us;  and  that,  while  he  could  not  hinder  us,  because 
the  law  gave  us  perfect  liberty,  he  would  do  not*  ing 
to  assist  us.  The  other  Honorable  Justices  might 
have  done  it,  but  they  did  not  wish  to  go  beyond  their 
superior  lest  he  should  bear  them  ill-will  for  so  doing. 

"As  for  the  rest,  you  give  us  heartfelt  joy  that  your 
Reverence  now  considers  us  a  new  congregation  and 
will  interest  yourself  in  our  behalf;  for  this  we  tender 
to  you  our  hearty  thanks.  In  the  meantime  it  will  be 
a  great  pleasure  to  us — if  God  grant  life  and  health — 
to  have  your  Reverence  come  with  the  minister  who 
shall  come  here  next  spring;  and  the  sooner  the 
better,  wind  and  weather  permitting. 

"And  now  we  commend  your  Reverence  and  your 

Venerable  Ministerium  to  the  care  of  the  Most  High 

God,  remaining,    under    Divine   direction,   true    and 

steadfast,  the 

"  Board  of  Elders. 

"F.  A. 

"J.  M. 

"M.  H. 

"A.  J. 

"H.  E. 

"  G.  C." 

"Lunenburg,  January  i,  1772." 


|4) 


. '  <*    ■ 


II 


304 


ACAOIE    AND    THE    ACADFANS. 


\    ':■■ 
■i  I  ■ 


II       \ 


I! 


IM^ 


Already,  in  1775,  Muhlenberg,  through  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Rev.  Michael  Schlatter,  then  a  chaplain 
in  the  English  army,  had  received  a  call  from  the 
Governor  of  Nova  Scotia  to  the  congregations  at 
Lunenburg  and  Halifax,  to  serve  among  the  Germans 
and  English  at  a  salary  of  seventy  pounds  sterling, 
and  twenty  pounds  in  addition  provided  he  would 
devote  some  time  to  the  instruction  of  the  youth.  He 
says:  "All  natural  feelings  did  not  disincline  me  to 
spend  my  last  hours  in  a  locality  where  I  would  have 
opportunity  to  serve  the  Church  and  her  schools,  to 
bring  up  my  seven  children  in  a  respectable  way,  and 
would  be  released  from  this  never-ceasing  being  on 
horseback,  wliich  injures  the  vigor  of  body  and  soul ; 
but,  not  being  able  to  reach  a  hasty  resolution  in 
such  important  matters,  I  petitioned  for  time  to  con- 
sider and  pray  over  this  proposition,  to  ponder  well  all 
the  circumstances,  so  as  to  recognize  the  gracious  will 
of  God.  It  was  subsequently  made  clear  to  me  that 
it  was  not  according  to  the  will  of  God." 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Schumacher,  who  labored  in  the 
years  1755-58,  at  Reading,  Pa.,  but  who  was  not  a 
member  of  the  Penna.  Ministerium,  could  not  prove 
his  ordination,  and,  as  Muhlenberg  states  in  his  diary, 
was  anything  but  exemplary  in  his  walk  and  conver- 
sation; .said  that  before  his  arrival  in  Pennsylvania,  he 


LETTEK    l-KDM    MUIILKNBEKG. 


305 


served  at  Luncnburjj,  Nova  Scotia,  where  at  that  time 
the  congregation  had  been  too  poor  to  sustain  him.* 
This  statement  we  must  regard  as  apocryphal.  No 
record,  at  least,  of  any  such  person  as  Schumacher,  has 
been  found  to  show  that  he  had  ever  been  pastor  at 
Lunenburg.  And  if  he  had  been  there  previous  to  1758, 
he  certainly  found  the  people  in  the  depths  of  poverty 
and  few  in  number.  But  if  he  were  a  man  of  evil 
life,  as  Muhlenberg  intimates,  then  the  most  wealthy 
and  powerful  congregation  in  existence  would  have 
been  too  poor  to  keep  him.  But  if  he  ever  were 
pastor  at  Lunenberg,  his  presence  and  his  work  were 
like  the  passing  of  a  cloud  across  the  sky:  he  came, 
he  went,  and  left  no  mark  behind. 

*  Life  and  Times  of  Henry  Melchoir  Muhlenberg,  p.  325. 
20 


1 

'! 

t  .! 

1   I 

^.?l! 


i.  ^>  i4 


1 


.    t.- 


,    ! 


'■  I- * 


M'i 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THROUGH  CONFLICT  TO  VICTORY. 

ly ;[R.  AKINS  says*  "The  Rev.  Peter  De  La  Roche 
■^'-^  was  ordained  to  the  cure  of  Lunenburg  in  1771. 
About  this  time,  a  large  body  of  Germans  had  sepa- 
rated themselves  from  the  Church,  and  built  Calvinist 
and  Lutheran  meeting-houses;  and  had  applied  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  President  of  the  Lutheran  Synod 
of  Philadelphia,  to  supply  them  with  a  missionary. 
That  gentleman,  it  appears,  discouraged  their  design, 
and  recommended  them  to  the  care  of  the  Church,  as 
being  better  able,  at  the  time,  to  provide  for  their 
spiritual  necessities.  This  drew  forth  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  Mr.  Muhlenberg  from  the  corresponding  com- 
mittee in  Halifax,  and  a  request  that  he  would  en- 
deavor to  obtain  a  deacon  or  schoolmaster,  qualified, 
as  expressed  in  the  letter,  to  assist  Mr.  Bryzelius  in 
the  German  mission." 

The  worthy  corresponding  committee  of  the  S.  P. 
G.  at  Halifax  might  have  reserved  their  thanksgiving; 
ard   Mr.  Akins,  too,  had  he  seen  ttie  letter  of  Dr. 


*Rise  and  Progress  ol  the  Church  of  England  in  the  British 
North  American  Provinces,  pp.  19,  20. 

(306) 


THROUGH    CONFLICT   TO    VIC  TORY. 


307 


Muhlenberg,  would  have  been  spared  the  odium  of 
having  placed  a  false  construction  upon  its  contents. 
Nowhere  does  the  Reverend  Doctor,  with  all  the 
pressure  of  his  associations  upon  him,  *'  recommend 
them  to  the  Church."  He  recommends  them  to  be 
and  remain  what  they  always  have  been;  Lutheran 
Christians.  He  recognizes  the  helplessness  of  their 
condition,  isolated  as  they  are,  and  counsels  prudence 
and  moderation.  He  regards  them  and  calls  them  a 
"  new  congregation."  The  people  thank  him  for  so 
regarding  them.  The  official  action  of  the  Minis- 
terium  so  regards  them.  Yet  this  published  misrep- 
resentation of  this  important  fact  has  been  circulating 
unchallenged,  for  almost  a  generation,  among  the 
people  whom  it  was  designed  to  lead  astray,  as  an 
established  truth.  Henceforth  let  its  established  un- 
truth be  fully  known ;  and  let  the  honored  memory  of 
Muhlenberg,  the  Patriarch  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
America,  be  free  from  the  implication. 

Deeply  as  he  may  be  honored,  and  however  much 
the  sincere  sentiments  of  Christian  love  which  appear 
in  his  letter  must  be  admired,  there  are  yet  in  it  some 
things  against  which  the  strange  afterglow  of  the 
light  of  history  shining  makes  needless  a  protest. 
Thoroughly  alive  as  he  is  to  the  interests  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church  in  the  new  land,  he  does  not  hesitate  to 


^'\ 


. »  r 


, !; '  ■♦  m 


M  II 


*.. 


i' 


i     ! 


( 
li 


m 


I: 


.1 


308 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


say:  "  We  arc  surrounded  by  many  different  envious 
sects  and  parties,  who  wish  and  would  rather  see  the 
ruin  than  the  edifying  of  our  Evangelical  congrega- 
tions." But  from  this  category  of  "envious  sects  and 
parties"  he  makes  haste  to  except  the  "  English  High 
or  Mother  Church."  In  making  that  exception  he 
made  the  mistake  of  his  life.  It  was  also  the  grand 
mistake  of  his  honored  co-laborer,  Von  Wrangel. 
But  how  did  they  know  that  after  all  their  love  and 
union  with  "  the  English  High  or  Mother  Church," 
we  of  this  generation  should  see  what  we  see  as  the 
result.  After  allowing  the  dear  brethren  of  "  the 
English  High  or  Mother  Church"  to  preach  in  their 
pulpits  and  commune  at  their  altars  the  logical  and 
historical  sequence  has  been  this :  that  in  those  very 
churches  where  these  dear  brethren  of  "the  English 
High  or  Mother  Church"  officiated,  they  stand  to-day 
as  owners  and  masters,  denying  that  Lutherans  have 
therein  any  right,  title,  interest  or  claim.  The  very 
church  edifices  and  property,  with  many  of  the  people 
before  whom  the  example  of  unionism  was  set  by 
trusted  pastors,  were  "conveyed"*  to  the  Episcopal 
Church. 


*lt 


_.  may  be  necessary  here  to  recall  Shakespeare's  definition  of  the 
word  convey.     He  says  of  stealing 

f« '  Convey,'  the  wise  it  call," 


I*!  i 


THROUGH    CONFLICT   TO    VICTORY. 


309 


They  are  gone  along  with  St.  George's  two 
churches  in  the  city  of  HaHfax;  gone  with  Gerock's 
church  and  another  one  in  New  York  city;  gone  with 
the  first  Lutheran  church  in  America,  consecrated  on 
Trinity  Sunday,  16^9,  at  Christiana,  Delaware;  gone 
with  the  first  church  in  which  ever  Muhlenberg 
preached  in  America,  old  "Gloria  Dei,"  the  oldest 
church  edifice  in  Philadelphia,  Von  Wrangel's  own 
church;  gone  by  the  sch-^ming,  duplicity  and  ingrati- 
tude of  these  friends,  of  "the  English  High  or  Mother 
Church,"  with  the  Lord  only  knows  how  many 
others  elsewhere,  into  the  Episcopal  fold.  They 
were  not  only  lost  in  name  but  in  fact  from  the  fellow- 
ship, as  well  as  the  faith  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
And  the  time  for  Lutheran  writers  to  keep  silence 
about  these  things  has  gone  by.  The  Lutheran 
Church  must  no  longer  allow  her  people  to  be 
proselyted  and  their  property  stolen  without  a  protest. 
And  if  the  law  of  God,  the  demands  of  Christian 
equity,  and  the  dictates  of  common  morality,  do  not 
move  those  people  to  make  restitution  of  the  stolen 
property,  then  the  powers  of  the  civil  law  should  be 
invoked.  Had  these  churches  been  dedicated  for  the 
preaching  of  the  doctrines  set  forth  in  the  Thirty-nine 
Articles  of  Episcopalianism,  no  fault  could  be  found 
with    Episcopalians    holding    them;   but   they   were 


I   u 


1 

i   il 


mi 


3IO 


ACADIF.    AXn    THE    ACADIAXS. 


Vv, 


ill 


i 


m:'\ 


i.4J " 
!';■■' 


Sri 

"  I 


Lutheran  Churches.  Their  charters  provide  for  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  according  to  the  Augsburg 
Confession. 

Had  Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  Provost  Von  Wrangel 
Icnown  what  we  now  know,  their  attitude  toward  the 
Episcopalians  certainly  would  have  been  different. 
"  When  unable  to  worship  in  a  house  of  their  own,  the 
Lutherans  had  permitted  the  Episcopalians  to  hold 
services  regularly  in  their  church ;  and  Lutheran  min- 
isters who  had  command  of  the  English  language  had 
repeatedly  served  them  for  considerable  periods,  both 
in  the  pulpit,  and  in  pastoral  ministration."* 

These  services  not  only  were  rendered  without  com- 
pensation, but  often,  as  Acrelius  states,!  without  any 
return  to  the  Lutheran  pastors  of  expenses  incurred  in 
this  extra  service. |  The  ingratitude  of  these  people 
certainly  was  exceeded  only  by  their  meanness.  The 
old  German  Lutherans  of  Halifax,  if  they  were  "  only 
Dutchmen,"  and  if  their  place  of  worship  was  only  a 
"  meeting  house,"  did  better  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  Wood 
and  Breynton  than  those  good  people  of  "  the  English 
High  or  Mother  Church." 

But  now,  to  return  from  this  natural  diversion  to  the 

*  Prof.  Dr.  Jacobs'  Essay  in  the  Lutheran  Diet,  1877. 
I  Acrelius,  219,  220,  361. 
X  Ibid.,  p.  141. 


THROUGH    CONFLICT   TO    VICTORV. 


311 


little  band  of  Lutherans,  fighting,  against  open  and  se- 
cret foes,  for  their  existence  as  an  independant  congre- 
gation in  Lunenburg;  how  fared  it  with  them?  It  is 
now  more  than  twenty  years  since  they  have  been 
without  a  teaching  pastor  of  their  own  faith.  Can 
faith  survive  ?     Let  us  see. 

It  may  be  readily  conjectured  that  their  hearts  were 
filled  with  joy  when  they  learned  that  but  a  few  short 
months  must  yet  elapse  until  their  prayer,  which  all 
these  years  had  been  ascending,  was  at  length  to  be 
answered  and  a  minister  sent  them.  But  with  all 
their  former  sad  experience  it  will  not  be  unnatural  if 
doubt  should  yet  remain.  Taking  up  Jung's  MS. 
again  we  read :  "  After  all  our  much  corresponding, 
which  we  have  neither  space  nor  time  to  transcribe, 
new  difficulties  arose,  so  that  the  promises  made  to  us 
were  not  fulfilled,  and  all  our  efforts  were  in  vain. 
Mr.  Umstatt  left  Philadelphia  without  doing  as  he 
had  promised ;  nor  did'  he  leave  behind  him  a  very 
good  reputation,  since  he  departed  secretly.  On  ac- 
count of  this,  the  Ministerium  became  indignant. 

"  But  now  another  has  arisen  to  speak  for  us  and 
take  charge  of  our  affairs  there,  namely,  Mr.  Kaul- 
bach,  who  was  sent  from  here  by  the  German  Re- 
formed congregation,  to  Philadelphia.  He  has  written 
to  us  that  our  affairs  there  are  not  in  a  prosperous 


♦,'ii 


■iul 


1^ 


■' .'» 


I  ■'* 


.1 


i  ■■1 


M 


rW 


312 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


condition;  that  little  interest  is  manifested,  and  that 
nothing  is  being  done.  He  writes  under  date  Decem- 
ber 26,  1 77 1,  that  he  intends  to  go  himself  and  see 
and  speak  with  the  minister  who  is  to  come  here.  He 
informs  us  that  letters  have  been  sent  to  those  who 
are  opposing  us  here,  who  all  the  time  have  kept  up 
a  secret  correspondence  with  persons  in  Philadelphia, 
with  a  view  to  frustrate  our  intentions. 

*'  We  wrote  to  him  again  the  26th  of  Febri  ary,  1772. 
He  received  our  letter  in  Philadelphia  the  8th  of  May- 
following,  and  answered  immediately.  He  tells  us 
that  he  went  to  visit  the  minister,  and  slept  in  his 
house  two  nights.  He  (the  minister)  promised  that 
he  would  come  to  us,  alone,  for  a  trial,  by  the  first 
opportunity  in  the  month  of  June.  On  the  22d  of 
May  he  wrote  us  that  the  Conference  (Ministerium) 
had  resolved  that  the  minister  should  hold  himself  in 
readiness  to  come  with  the  first  vessel  that  sailed." 

And  thus  again  we  find  these  poor  people  raised  to 
the  joyful  heights  of  hope,  from  whence  the  future 
looked  all  rosy,  and  where  the  sweet  birds  of  promise 
were  singing  in  their  ears.  The  faithful  Andreas  had 
written  to  his  relatives  in  Germany  ten  years  before 
that  "  all  that  he  and  his  people  then  wanted,  was  an 
Evangelical  Lutheran  minister."*     They  wanted  him 

*  History  of  the  County  of  Lunenburg,  Des  Bris.iy,  p.  32. 


m  i 


THROUGH    CONFLICT    TO    VICTORY. 


313 


then,  they  wanted  him  before,  and  wanted  him  ever 
since.  And  now  he  was  coming,  "  with  the  first 
vessel  that  sailed."  The  dearest  wish  of  these  stead- 
fast hearts  was  now  to  be  fulfilled.  Their  long-con- 
tinued prayer  was  to  be  answered. 

"  But,"  proceeds  the  chronicler,  "  instead  of  the 
minister,  we  received,  on  the  19th  of  July,  the  sad  in- 
telligence that  the  Rev.  M.  Wildbahn,  who  was  to 
have  come  here  from  New  Hanover,  in  Pennsylvania, 
could  not  come  because  his  congregations,  of  which 
there  are  nine,  were  unwilling  to  allow  him  to  leave 
them. 

"Now  arose  mourning  and  lamentations  again  from 
old  and  young;  that  we  are  so  forsaken  in  this 
American  wilderness,  and  must  live  like  the  Indians. 
There  was  no  end  of  raillery  and  mockery  either 
among  our  enemies,  who  would  rather  witness  the 
ruin  than  the  building  up  of  our  congregation.  But 
the  Lord,  who  rules  in  heaven  and  on  earth  and  holds 
the  destiny  of  all  men  in  His  hands  and  can  lead  them 
as  He  will,  has  chosen  for  Himself  the  time  in  which 
He  will  surely  help  us. 

"We  again  began  to  write  to  Philadelphia  to  the 
Rev.  Muhlenberg,  and  to  New  York  to  the  Rev. 
Gerock. 

"Our  letter  to  Mr.  Muhlenberg  is  as  follows: 


."rfS 


M 


'^i 


i/'' 


HI 


m 

■t 

lii 


fl 


3H 


ACAniK    AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


I       ['..1 


■ 

1 

'\  ^ 

i 

3 

-■*      ■  1 

■'  i 

i 

\ 

y                i 

1 

"'■               '       ! 

•.i ! 
■  I 

Mil 

.■  1 1 

;'     '  ; 

■j    . 
1 

■;l 

i  '■ 

i 

',1 

*^^  Reverend  and  Honored  Sir: — We  trust  your  Rev- 
erence will  not  think  hard  of  us  wiien  \vc  take  the 
liberty  to  remind  you  of  the  Resolotion  of  Synod, 
l)assed  the  28th  of  September,  1771,  and  sent  to  us, 
and  for  which  we  have  not  yet  expressed  our  grati- 
tude as  shall  in  time  be  done.  We  have  from  time  to 
time  expected  our  promised  minister,  and  have  re- 
ceived three  letters  from  Mr.  Kaulbach  concerninf; 
liim.  In  the  first  two  letters  he  informed  us  that  we 
could  be  expecting  him,  as  he  would  start  on  his 
journey  by  the  loth  of  June.  This  announcement 
awakened  great  joy  among  our  people,  both  old  and 
young.  But  as  we  received,  on  the  19th  of  July,  not 
our  minister,  but  the  sad  tidings  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wildbahn,  according  to  his  writing,  could  not  keep 
his  promise;  we  therefore  beg  your  Reverence,  for 
our  Dear  Saviour's  sake,  that  you  would  be  so  kind 
as  to  furni.sh  us  with  a  minister.  We  are  in  danger 
here.  With  sorrowful  hearts  we  are  obliged  to  sec 
our  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation  scattered. 
Not  only  are  our  youth  growing  up  like  dumb  cattle, 
but  there  is  a  large  number  of  young  married  men 
and  women  who  are  not  yet  confirmed  and  have 
never  been  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  although  the  most 
of  them  are  hungering  and  thirsting  for  it.  We  there- 
fore beg  again  that  your  Reverenge  will  on  no  account 


% 


THROUGH    CONFLICT    TO    VICTORY. 


3'5 


become  weary  of  our  importunity  and  frequent  peti- 
tions. Our  sore  need  compels  us.  The  love  of 
Christ  constrains  us.  Our  reverence  for  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  her  pure  doctrines  leads  us.  We  cannot 
do  otherwise. 

"'We  now  take  the  liberty,  in  closing,  to  subscribe 
ourselves,  your  obliged  Servants  and  Children  in  the 
Lord.  We  pray  for  your  Reverence  and  the  Honored 
Ministerium  in  our  public  prayers,  every  Sunday  in 
our  church.  We  now  await  with  deepest  anxiety,  a 
favorable  response,  and  remain, 

"'With  friendly  salutations, 

" '  Your  Honor's. 

'''  Lunefiburg,  July  26th,  1772. 

" '  P.  S.  There  is  one  thing  to  be  added,  namely:  that 
the  person  who  is  to  come  here  need  have  no  fear. 
He  will  surely,  after  being  here,  not  wish  to  go  away 
again.  Circumstances  will  be  found  very  different 
from  the  reports  whereby  we  have  been  misrepre- 
sented. We  hope,  also,  that  we  must  not  sufifer  be- 
cause Mr.  Umstatt  did  not  conduct  himself  as  he 
i-hould  have  done,  and  was  untrue  to  us.  If  the  min- 
ister who  is  to  come  is  afraid,  we  will  give  bonds  for 
any  amount  he  may  require. 

'"We  have  had  a  bond  executed  by  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  who  wrote  it  in  English  and  signed  it  as  a  wit- 


t 

'      I- 


I  I 


■■"I 


N .  li 


I.  1 

'■•■;!  I 


m\ 


m 


}  :?m3 


i 

1 

1 

1 J 

I     1 
1 

M 

'  .ill 

i   I-    1 

1 

1 

i 

i  !  i 


11:-! 


316 


ACADIK    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


\\-\- 


ncss.     It  was  drawn  upon  the  four  undersigned  elders 
and  sent  to  Philadelphia. 

^^•A.  J. 

"'H.  E. 

"  The  letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gerock,  in  New  York, 
contained  in  substance  about  the  same  as  the  one 
above  to  Mr.  Muhlenberg.  But  it  now  occurred  that 
Mr.  Kaulbach,  havin*^  finished  his  affairs  in  Pennsvl- 
vania,  was  returning  without  waiting  for  any  further 
information  from  us.  We  had  written  to  him  again 
on  the  1 2th  of  October,  1772,  and  also  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Muhlenberg;  but  he  had  already  left  Philadelphia 
ijid  gone  to  New  York.  He  went  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gerock  on  his  own  responsibility,  and  reported  to  him 
our  situation  and  desire.  But  the  Rev.  Gerock  did 
not  know  of  any  minister  to  propose.  Finally,  how- 
ever, he  thought  of  an  unmarried  man,  a  minister,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hartwick,  and  wrote  to  him  at  once,  asking 
whether  he  would  accept  a  call  to  come  here.  Before 
sufficient  time  had  elapsed  for  a  reply  to  be  returned, 
another  man  was  proposed  to  Mr.  Kaulbach,  from  the 
Provin:e  of  New  York.  His  name  was  the  Rev. 
Freiderich  Schultz,  a  minister  from  Wiirtemburg. 
He  went  at  once  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gerock  and  con- 


THKOUGH    CONFLICT   TO    VICTORV. 


1^7 


suited  with  him  concerning  this  Rev.  Schultz.  The 
Rev.  Gerock  wrote  to  him  and  as  soon  as  he  received 
the  letter  he  came  to  New  York,  where  a  consultation 
was  held  as  to  whether  he  should  accept  the  call.  lie 
was  willing  to  come  along  with  Mr.  Kaulbach  to 
Lunenburg  on  a  trial,  and  they  accordingly  set  out 
together  and  arrived  here  in  safety  on  the  27th  of 
October,  1772.  On  the  twentieth  Sunday  after 
Trinity,  being  the  first  day  of  November,  1772,  ho 
preached  the  first  sermon  in  our  new  church,  and  the 
following  Sunday,  November  8th,  he  dedicated  it  and 
gave  it  the  name  Zion's  Church.  The  first  Sunday  in 
Advent  he  administered  for  the  first  time  the  Holy  Com- 
munion to  one  hundred  and  fifteen  communicants,  and 
at  the  same  time  confirmed  thirty-five  catechumens." 
We  may  readily  imagine  the  joy  of  this  occasion. 
The  long-deferred  hope  of  this  faithful  and  long-suffer- 
ing little  flock  at  length  was  realized.  Well  might  they 
now  extol  the  Name  of  the  Lord  who  had  lifted  them 
up  and  had  not  left  their  enemies  to  triumph  over  them. 
They  had  cried  to  the  Lord  in  the  day  of  trouble;  He 
had  heard  and  graciously  answered  their  appeal.  "  Sing 
unto  the  Lord,  O  ye  saints  of  His,  and  give  thanks  at 
the  remembrance  of  His  holiness.  For  His  anger  en- 
dureth  but  for  a  moment;  in  His  favor  is  life:  weeping 
may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning." 


If  ■» 


,.  »j  .1 


^t'f 


I         i 


M 


*  *. 


1 

■  • 

lit!  ' 


!l! 


•       . 


11 

.it 

^1 

1'! 

1 

■     '   i 
• 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
SCHULTZ,  THE  FIRST  MINISTER. 

CONCERNING  the  antecedents  of  the  newly  ar- 
rived minister  not  very  much  is  known.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Mann,  in  a  letter  bearing  date  June  4tli, 
1 88o,  writes  as  follows :  "About  Rev.  Fr.  Schultz, 
unfortunately  little  is  known.  I  find  some  remarks 
about  him  in  the  Evangelical  Review,  vol.  xv.,  p.  172-3, 
but  they  are  unsatisfactory.  The  light  which  the 
Halle  Reports  throw  on  the  man  is  equally  dim.  I 
wrote  to  Dr.  B.  M.  Schmuckcr,  aivl  he  gave  me  a  syn- 
opsis of  all  the  Halle  Reports  say,  at  various  places; 
but  it  is  by  no  means  what  we  should  like  to  know. 

Friederich  Schultz  was  ho-n  .it  Konigsberg  in 
Prussia,  studied  at  the  University  in  that  city,  and  at 
Halle,  and  for  a  time  was  employed  in  the  celebrated 
Orphan  House  of  that  place.  The  call  to  America 
having  been  offered  to  him,  he  was  ordained  at  Wer- 
nigerode,  July  nth,  175 1,  with  the  Rev.  J.  D.  M. 
Heitzelmann,  and  both  started  by  the  way  of  Ham- 
burg and  London  (Sept.  2d)  for  America.  They  ar- 
rived in    Philadelphia    December    12th.     Fr.  Schultz 

now  for  some  time  was  H.  M.  Muhlenberg's  assistant, 

(3'8) 


SCHULTZ,  THE    FIRST    MINISTER. 


319 


and  also  served  the  New  Goshenhoppen  congregation, 
once  every  two  weeks.  In  1752,  September,  he  was 
present  at  the  meeting  of  Synod.  He  removed  to 
New  Hanover,  one  of  Muhlenberg's  charges,  and 
from  there  to  New  Goshenhoppen,  and  at  the  same  time 
say  1753-54,  also  served  the  Indianfieid  congregation. 
And  now  he  disappears  from  the  Halle  Reports.  In 
1759,  "^  ^^^  ''■''^  ^^  congregations  under  the  care  of 
tile  Ministerium,  his  name  is  not  mentioned,*  He 
must  have  left  his  two  congregations  for  some  cause 
or  other,  and  therefore  no  trace  of  him  is  found  until 
he  appears,  1772,  in  Lunenburg.  Already  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Roth  (Jacob  Roth,  formerly  a  Roman  Catholic 
Studiosus),  preached,  1761,  to  the  Indianfieid  congre- 
gation, and  had  for  some  time  occupied  the  place  there 
formerly  filled  by  Friederich  Schultz.  What  field 
Schultz  occupied  until  he  appears  in  Nova  Scotia, 
seems  to  be  unknown.  There  is  no  notice  of  him  in 
Pennsylvania,  New  York,  or  other  places." 

Having  seen  it  recorded  as  a  matter  of  history,  that 
Muhlenberg's  son-in-law  was  named  Schultze,  the 
question  arose,  and  was  placed  before  Doctor  Mann, 
iis  to  whether  the  Lunenburg  Schultz  might  be  the 
same  person.  The  following  reply  disposes  of  the 
question : 


>  i 


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*  HallUche  Nachrichten^  p.  843. 


fn 


'~'i) 


m< 


W 


320 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


"  Now  to  the  historical  question.  There  were  three 
ministers  Schultz  or  Schultze,  during  the  last  century, 
in  the  Lutheran  Church  in  North  America.  The  first 
one,  of  a  doubtlul  character,  went,  in  1733,  with  sev- 
eral other  delegates  from  New  Hanover,  Providence 
and  Philadelphia  congregations  to  Europe,  to  raise 
funds  for  these  three  congregations,  but  did  not  return. 
About  the  time  of  his  death  nothing  is  now  known. 

"The  second  one,  in  fact  as  to  time  the  latest,  was 
the  son-in-law  of  Dr.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg,  and  pastor 
at  Tulpehocken ;  at  one  time  received  a  call  to  the 
Philadelphia  congregation,  but  did  not  enter  upon  that 
field  ;  labored  at  Tulpehocken  for  thirty-eight  years, 
and  died  March  9,  1809.  He  married  a  year  after  his 
arrival  in  this  country,  which  took  place  in  October, 
1765,  Miss  Eva  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Muhlenberg.  At  first  he  was  the  doctor's  colleague 
in  the  Philadelphia  congregation  for  five  years,  then 
he  followed  the  call  to  Tulpehocken.  The  next  call  to 
Philadelphia  came  in  1784,  but  Schultze  refused  to 
come.  He  was  at  various  times  made  president  of 
the  Ministerium,  and  died  as  its  senior.  His  name 
was  Christopher  Emmanuel  Schultze. 

"The  third  one,  Frederick  Schultz,  your  Lunenburg 
man,  was  born  at  Konigsberg,  Prussia,  as  previously 
stated,  received   there  his  classical  education,  studied 


'i 

III 

if 

' 

i 

L. 

i_;  . 

SCHULTZ,  THE    FIKST    MINISTER. 


3^1 


theology  at  Halle  University  and  was  for  a  time  em- 
Dloyed  in  the  Orphans'  Home  of  that  city.  He  came 
♦^o  this  country  with  J.  D.  Matth.  Heinzelmann,  175 1, 
both  having  been  ordained  at  Wernigerode,  labored 
for  a  few  years  as  Muhlenberg's  adjunctus  at  New 
Hanover,  and  entered  upon  the  pastoral  work  at  New 
Goshenhoppen  and  Indianfield  in  1753.  Now  he  dis- 
appears. In  a  list  of  congregations  united  with  the 
Ministeritim  in  1757  his  name  docs  not  appear,"  * 
and  in  1762  we  find  that  the  Rev.  Jacob  Roth  was 
pastor  of  those  congregations.  A.  D.  1772  Schultz 
was  called  to  Lunenburg,  etc.  In  the  Ev.  Review,  xv., 
p.  173  it  is  stated  that  there  he  labored  with  success 
till  his  death  in  1809.  (This  rests  on  no  testimony. 
As  to  the  year  1809  I  think  he  is  mixed  with  Christ- 
opher Em.  Schultze.)" 

In  the  year  1772  the  Lunenburg  Church  Records 
are  begun  in  Schultz's  handwriting,  with  all  those 
little  accessories  of  neatness  and  method  which  mark 
the  work  of  a  trained  scholar.  The  opening  antedates 
his  arrival  a  few  weeks  (Aug.  ist),  but  is  evidently  the 
work  of  his  hand.  Everything  in  the  book  is  arranged 
with  scrupulous  exactness,  the  writing  in  English 
characters,  the  captions  in  Latin,  all  in  clear  running 
hand,     '^^he  first,  after  the  title  page,  contains  a  list  of 


at 


(  *  Hallische  Nachrichten,  §  10,  p.  843) 


11 

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322 


ACADIE  AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


!  ■! 


names  of  elders  or  deacons,  and  the  second  a  list  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  men,  members  of  the 
congregation.  Gathering  up  all  the  marks  in  order 
which  throw  further  light  upon  the  history  of  the  Rev, 
Mr.  Schultz,  they  sum  up  the  following:  On  the  5th 
of  December,  1774,  Friederich  and  Maria  Schultz  stand 
sponsors  for  Johannes,  the  son  of  Christian  Schreiber 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth.  This  informs  us  that  he  was 
married  and  brought  his  family  to  Lunenburg  after  his 
trial  trip. 

In  April  1773,  work  was  begun  on  the  Parsonage,* 

■*  TRANSCRIPT  FROM  TREASURER'S  ACCOUNTS. 

1773.  446  days'  labor  were  spent  upon  building  the  Parsonage,  and 

out  of  these  were  paid  123  days  as  follows  : 

Pounds.  Shillings.  Pence 

14  by  Mr.  Hand  @  3  shillings  per  day  .    .    . 
20  by  Andreas  Jung  @  3  shillings  per  day .  . 
5  by  Wni.  HaUsler  @  3  shillings  per  day.  . 
13  by  Nicolaus  Schmidt  @  3  shillings  per  day 
13  by  Ludwig  Spindler  @  3  shillings  per  day. 
16  by  And,  Bolivar  @  2  shillings  and  6  pence 
6^  by  George  P>ank  @  2  shillings  and  6  pence 
I  by  Conrad  Nau  @  2  shillings  and  6  pence 
^9/4  by  members  of  the  congregation  who  have 

worked  more  than  five  days  at  I  shilling  and 

6  pence  per  day 

The  other  expenses  together  amount  to  .   , 
Total 49 

At  $4  to  the  pound,  this  amounts  to  ;jSi97.8l. 


2 

9 

O 

3 

o 

o 

'5 

0 

I 

19 

o 

I 

19 

O 

2 

o 

o 

i6 

3 

3 

6 

2 

4 

3 

£^5 

5 

o 

34 

4 

>i 

!!i!, 


Ifli 


SCHULTZ,  THE   FIRST   MINISTER. 


323 


(the  one  removed  in  1883),  and  one  item  in  the  Treas- 
urer's accounts  gives  the  Rev.  gentleman  himself 
credit  for  nine  days'  labor  at  chopping  in  the  woods 
on  the  timbers  used  in  its  construction.  A  list  of  the 
families  in  connection  with  the  church  September  1st, 
1775,  shows  the  number  to  be  one  hundred  and 
eighty-five.  The  congregation  was  evidently  increas- 
ing and  enjoying  prosperity  under  his  care.  In  the 
list  of  deaths  and  burials  for  the  year  1777  appears 
the  following:  "August  22nd,  Samuel  Schultz,  aged 
17  years,  5  months  and  12  days,  was  buried  in  the 
Lutheran  church  in  Lunenburg,  under  the  pulpit. 
He  is  the  first  thus  in  the  church  interred."  The  last 
recorded  act  of  his  ministry  is  a  baptism  dated  Novem- 
ber 19,  1780.  The  only  collateral  evidence  of  his 
doings  after  that,  yet  discovered,  is  in  the  form  of  a 
deed  for  one  thousand  acres  of  land  on  Port  Medway, 
given  by  John  Creighton,  Esq.,  to  Frederick  Schultz, 
Minister,  and  bearing  date  August  8th,  1777.  He 
disappears  for  the  present  from  Nova  Scotia  as  com- 
pletely and  mysteriously  as  from  Pennsylvania. 

Our  trusted  annalist  Andreas  Jung  gives  us  all  we 
have  now  to  add  to  his  history.  He  says:  "After 
having  discharged  among  us  the  duties  of  his  ofiice 
for  several  years,  he  became  displeased,  and  demanded 
an  increase  of  salary  above  what  had  been  promised 


■h 


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t|i: 


»«' 


324 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


to  him.  As  this  was  not  paid,  he  several  times  pre- 
sented his  resignation,  became  discontented  and 
Threatened  to  leave.  We,  therefore,  very  quietly,  in 
1776,  made  known  our  situation,  through  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Baumgarten,  of  Liitter  on  the  Barrenberg,  to  the 
Consistory  of  Wernigerode  in  the  Earldom  of  Stol- 
berg.  This  Consistory  gave  us  this  advice:  that  if  our 
minister  should  leave  us  we  should  send  our  petition 
to  the  Rev.  Friederich  Wilhelm  Pasche  of  the  High 
German  Court  Chapel  in  London,  and  also  to  the 
Rev.  Anastasius  Freylinghausen,  praying  them  to 
send  us  a  minister.  With  this  request  they  complied, 
and  promised  to  send  us  one  as  soon  as  possible. 

During  this  time,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schultz  was  for  six 
months  without  any  salary.  We  met  together  in  our 
church  every  Sunday,  and  read  a  sermon.  He  then 
offered  of  his  own  accord,  on  the  24th  of  May,  1 781, 
that  he  would  preach  again  if  the  congregation  were 
satisfied.  This  offer  was  laid  before  the  congregation, 
and  it  was  resolved  that  if  he  would  be  satisfied  to  re- 
ceive as  his  remuneration  the  free-will  offerings  of  the 
people,  he  might  do  so  until  the  other  minister  would 
come.  Thereupon  he  preached  again,  for  the  first 
time  the  Sunday  before  Pentecost  or  Whitsunday, 
and  continued  until  the  fourth  Sunday  after  Easter, 
April  28,  1782." 


Ilili^ 


'i  I   :  1   ! 

|!J,S1       i:l     1 


SCHULTZ,  THE   KIRST    MINISTER. 


325 


Here  the  curtain  falls  upon  the  history  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Schultz,  leaving  him,  it  must  be  confessed,  in  no 
enviable  position.  Dr.  Mann  says :  "  It  may  be  tha\ 
in  Pennsylvania  something  went  wrong  with  the  man.' 
here  we  may  be  sure  something  went  wrong  with  him 
That  the  church  should  remain  closed,  or  opened  for 
services  by  laymen  only,  while  an  ordained  minister 
was  at  hand  and  idle,  is  abundant  evidence  that  some- 
thing was  wrong.  But  there  may  be  circumstances  of 
which  we  cannot  judge,  as  there  are  others  which  we 
do  not  know,  explaining,  in  part  at  least,  the  abnormal 
condition  of  affairs  at  this  particular  juncture.  It  was 
a  time  of  general  depression.  Alarm  followed  alarm, 
and  deep  anxiety  pervaded  the  whole  country.  War 
stalked  grim-visaged  through  the  land.  The  mother 
country,  to  which  Nova  Scotia  ever  remained  loyal, 
was  engaged  in  a  hopeless  effort  to  subjugate  the 
United  Colonies  of  the  New  World.  Indeed,  the  fires 
of  that  conflict  were  even  then  kindled  in  the  streets 
of  Lunenburg  and  bloodshed  was  begun.  So  let  not 
hasty  or  uncharitable  judgments  be  pronounced;  for 
those  were  troublous  times. 

That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schultz  was  not  inactive,  we  may 
judge  from  the  part  he  took  in  building  the  parsonage. 
During  his  pastorate  also  the  bell  was  bought  and 
placed  in  position.     The  history  of  this  bell  is  pccu- 


a- 


!!• 


.  :l 


K 


\V' 


m 


II 


326 


ACADIE   AND   lilE   ACAIMANS. 


lia*.  It  was  originally  brought  from  France  and  hung 
in  the  chape.^  of  the  Fort  at  Louisbourg.  Upon  the 
dismantling  of  that  stronghold  in  1758,  it  was  taken 
out  and  carried  to  Halifax.  There  it  lay  stored  away 
with  other  spoils  of  victory  until  1776,  when  it  was 
purchased  from  the  Government  by  the  Lutherans  at 
Lunenburg  and  hung  in  their  new  church.  It  was 
rung  there  for  the  first  time  on  the  tenth  of  August, 
1776.  It  has  a  peculiarly  sweet  and  sonorous  tone. 
That  it  was  intended  for  Roman  Catholics  by  its  man- 
ufacturers there  is  no  doubt,  since  on  the  one  side 
is  a  large  Latin  cross  and  on  the  other  a  ba3-relief 
full-length  representation  of  the  Virgin  Mother  with 
the  Infant  Saviour  in  her  arms.  It  has  been  said, 
though  upon  what  authority  it  is  impossible  to  de- 
clan  that  when  the  town  was  invaded  in  1782,  this 
bell  was  taken  down,  carried  to  the  Back  Harbor,  sunk 
in  the  water  and  left  there  until  all  fear  of  having  it 
seized  was  over. 

As  an  interesting  relic,  the  list  of  subscribers  for  the 
purchase  of  the  bell  is  here  presented,  with  the 
original  spelling  of  their  names: 


Hi  J 


( 

•ill' 

I    '             »> 

1, 

SCHULTZ,  THE    FIRST    MINISTER 


Received,  1776,  Jvly  28,  for  the  Bell 


ColiecteU  in  Halifax. 

Mr.    Friederich    Ott   presented    a 
small  bell  for  ihe  school-house. 


Rudolf  Spindler  .... 
Thomas  Wagner  .... 

Mr.  Boehmish 

Andreas  Bauer 

Jacob  Burckhardt    .    .    . 
John  Hoffmann    .... 
Elizabeth  Brand  .... 
Catharina  Barbara  Brand. 
Anton  Henrich*  .... 

Henry  Kiihn 

Nicolaus  Anspang  .    .    . 

Barbara  Gaxel 

Mrs.  Winn 

Catharina  Shelly .... 
Mr.  Newton 


Collected  in  Lunenburg 

Herr  Pastor  Schultz 
Friederich  Schultz  . 
Samuel  Schultz    .    . 
Friederich  Arenberg 
Andreas  Jung  .    .    . 
Heinrich  Ernst.  .    . 
Melchoir  Bromm.    . 
Wendel  Wii-st  .    ,    . 
George  Boehner  .    . 
Mathes  Blysteiner   . 
John  Schwartz.   .    . 
Lorentz  Conradt  .    . 
1..  A.  Tauber  .    .    . 
Caspar  Conra'^t    .    . 
Caspar  Meiszner,  Jun. 
John  Wm.  Blysteiner 
Conradt  Wentzel . 
Andreas  Haasz    . 
John  Rehfus.    .    . 
Heinrich  Meisser 
John  Arenberg.   . 
Peter  Arenberg   . 


s. 

10 

5 

5 

5 
10 

2 

I 

5 
2 

2 

I 

2 

I 

c 

J 


5 

5 
10 

10 

10 

5 
15 
»5 

10 
10 

5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
4 
5 
5 
5 


George  Arenberg.   . 
Leonhart  Arenberg . 
Freiderich  Rigolo,  butcher 
Peter  Schlitter .   . 
Mathias  Ernst  .    . 
Caspar  Ernst    .    . 
Rudolf     Kilhn's     Eldest 

Daughter 

Jacob  Hirtle 

Catharina  Bargeld  .  . 
Nicolaus  Berghausz.  . 
Augustin  Wegschriter. 
Georg  Conradt.  .  .  , 
Jacob  Maurer  .... 
Christoph  Naasz  .  .  . 
John  Bargeld  .... 
Philip  Wagner.    .    . 

Adam  Ailer 

Nicolaus  Conradt    .    . 

Daniel  Hiltz 

Heinrich  Lantz.  ... 
George  Deuthof .  .  . 
Peter  Klettenberger.  . 
Heinrich  Schauftelberge 
John  Seeburger  . 
Caspar  Jung.  .  . 
John  Jung.  .  .  . 
Philip  Hauszler.  . 
Valentine  Diehl  . 
John  Diehl  .  .  . 
Eli  Kedy  .... 
John  Gerhardt .  . 
Michael  Morash  . 
Anton  Halter  .  . 
John  Lantz  .  .  . 
John  Muller .  .  . 
Peter  Mauszer  .  . 
Heinrich  Vogler  . 
Mr.  Knaut  .  .  . 
Thomas  Schmitt  . 
Heinrich  Ochsner 
Albrecht  Mauszer 
George  Kaiser.   . 


3-/ 


s. 

2 

I 

10 

5 
2 

2 


5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 


5 
5 
3 

3 

2 

5 
I 

5 
2 

5 
II 

2 

2 

3 

5 

5 

5 
I 

5 

5 
10 

10 

2 

5 
5 


8 
6 

6 


*  This  is  our  old  friend  Anthony  Htniy,  th  <;  Misician  and  Priottr. 


J 

J 

V 

i 

.    » 

I.| 

r 


• . 


"I 


m:  I 


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i.j-,1.  * 


328 


ACADII-:    AM)    TIIK   ACADIANS. 


rl  I 


PhiUp  Schmeltxer 
Peter  Schmeltzer. 
Adam  Phielro  .  . 
George  Mauszer  . 
Elizabeth  Callicot 
I'eter  Schnarr  .  . 
Friederich  Hahn. 
Caspar  Zinck  .  . 
Jacob  Moszer  .  . 
Jacob  Speitel  .  . 
Jacob  Rehfus  .  . 
Peter  Klettenburger,  Jun 
Philip  Berghausz  . 
Christian  Ernst.  . 
Urbanus  Heiner  . 
Lorentz  Wentzel  . 
Friederich  Lott  . 
John  Besancon.  . 
Mary  Loeszle  .  . 
George  Bolleber  , 


s.jd.' 
5 


Nicolaus  Schniitt.    .    .    . 

John  Beiler 

John  Freydenberg   .    .    . 

Conradt  Diehl 

Martin  Goetz 

Gottlieb  Harnisch   .    .    . 

Jacob  Selig 

Rudolf  Kuhn 

Eberhart  Hauszler  .  .  , 
Georg   Michael   Schmitt, 

Jun 

John  Rehfus,  Jun.  .  .  , 
Caspar  Meiszner,  Sen.  . 
Christian  Graft  .... 
Nicolaus  Schmitt,  Jun.  . 

William  Kedy 

Michael  Hauptman  ,  .    . 


I 

s.i 

2 

6 

2 

3 

5 

I 

5 
5 

5 

I 

2 

5 
4 
3 
5 

27 

16 

6 
6 


STATEMENT. 

1770,  the  7th  of  April,  I  began  under  an  article  of  agree- 
ment to  work  on  the  church  and  worked  until  the 
church  was  raised :  22^  days  @  3  shillings   .... 

Further,  from  July  until  November,  I  worked  in  the 
church  29^  day.s 

Further,  I  paid  in  gold  for  the  lot  and  other  expenses   . 

1773,  the  27th  April,  I  began  to  work  on  the  parsonage 
and  worked  9^^  days.  Again  on  the  house,  15^, 
r.iaking  together  25  days.  From  this  I  threw  off  5 
days,  as  the  other  members  of  the  congregation  did, 
leaving  20  days  ... 

1774,  I  framed  the  stable  in  connection  >vith  the  parson- 
age property,  3  days , 


I     s.     d. 

369 

486 
I       o      o 


o      o 


090 


12 


s. 

d. 

2 

6 

6 

6 

2 

6 

3 

5 

I 

5 

5 

S 

I 

■^ 

J 

2 

5 

4 

3 

5 

i6 

5 

SCHUI.TZ,  THE    FIRST    MINISTER.  329 

Upon  this  I  have  received: 

June  21,  1772 ^  o      o 

December  7 2  o      o 

»773.  July  7 I  2      6 

Further,  my  share  which  I  am  indebted   tc  pay  on  tut 

parsonage ,  2       o 

Also,    from  Caspar  Conradt  and  Conr.ult   Wentzel,   fu 

their  share  on  the  parsonage i  a       q 

Further,  for  the  church,  for  my  share  of  the  churcli  debt.       211       o 

996 

The  congregation  remains  indebted  to  me 2  14       9 

12  4       3 
Reckoned  Jan.  7,  1775. 

Andreas  Junu. 


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1-!  ■ 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 
THE  INVASION  OF  LUNENBURG. 

f  N  1780  the  American  brig  "Sally,"  from  the  French 
^  West  Indies,  bound  to  New  England,  laden  with 
rum,  sugar,  and  molasses,  having  been  driven  out  of 
her  course  by  stress  of  weather,  came  to  anchor  near 
Lunenburg,  February  24th,  and  sent  a  boat's  crew 
ashore.  The  men  were  made  prisoners,  the  vessel  was 
attacked  and  taken  as  a  prize. 

March  15th,  1782,  a  privateer  sloop  of  six  guns 
^rom  Boston,  Capt.  Potter,  took  the  schooner  "Two 
Sisters,"  off  Green  Island,  and  extorted  a  ransom  of 
;^8o  and  some  provisions. 

In  the  same  year,  the  last  day  of  June,  Capt.  Wied- 
erhold,  who  had  arrived  at  Lunenburg  from  Halifax, 
gave  the  warning,  "  The  Yankees  are  coming  to-mor- 
row," and  when  the  morrow  came  the  Yankees  were 
there.  How  Capt.  VVeiderhold  gained  his  information 
is  not  stated,  nor  is  it  known  why  it  should  have  been 
maintained  by  those  in  authority  that  no  warning  had 
been  received. 

However,  on  July   ist,  six  of  the  ever  unwelcome 

privateers   appeared   off  Eastern  Points,  where  they 

( 330 ) 


THE   INVASION    OF    LUNENBURG. 


33' 


seized  three  men  and  compelled  them  to  pilot  the 
vessels  into  Lunenburg  harbor.  They  were  a  brigan- 
tine,  the  "  Scammel,"  Capt.  Stoddart;  a  large  schooner, 
the  *' Jessie,"  Capt.  Babcock,  two  small  schooners,  a 
sloop,  and  a  row-galley.  Ninety  men,  well  armed, 
were  landed  near  Redhead,  a  prominent  headland 
about  two  miles  east  of  the  town.  They  were  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Babcock  and  Lieut.  Bateman. 
"A  narrative,  written  at  the  time,  by  Leonard  C. 
Rudolf,  Esq.,  gives  a  good  account  of  the  affair. 


1  ^ 

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"minutes  of  the  invasion  and  surprize  of  the 
town  of  lunenburg,  on  monday, 

JULY   1ST,    1782. 

"At  the  rising  of  the  sun,  the  town  was  alarmed  by 
the  firing  of  a  number  of  small  guns  near  the  Block- 
house and  Mr.  Creighton's.  The  case  was  that  Mr. 
Creighton's  servant,  having  perceived  a  large  company 
of  armed  men  coming  on  the  road  from  the  Common, 
had  acquainted  his  master  thereof.  The  night  guard 
being  already  gone  off,  Colonel  Creighton  with  only 
5  men  got  into  the  Block-house,  and  at  the  approach 
of  the  enemy  they  fired  at  and  wounded  three  men  of 
the  enemy. 

"The  rebels  directly  divided  in  several  parties,  2  of 
which  ran  to  our  2  Batteries,  spiked  the  guns,  broke 


.r  ! 


•1 


':ii^ 


Z12 


ACADIE    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


i' 


H  f  * .' 


everything,  turned  the  guns  and  balls  down  to  the 
water;  some  remained  at  Mr,  Creighton's,  spoiled  and 
burnt  his  house  and  effects;  they  took  himself  with  the 
5  men,  and  their  vessels  being  now  come  round  the 
Point,  they  carried  the  Colonel  with  the  others  prison- 
ers on  board  their  vessels.  In  the  meantime,  other 
parties  had  over-run  all  the  town,  entered  every  house, 
seized  all  arms  which  they  either  beat  to  pieces  or 
kept  them  particularly  the  silver-hilted  swords  and 
regimentals,  to  themselves. 

"When  their  vessels  wtTe  in,  which  were  in  all  6, 
viz. :  one  brigantine,  a  large  schooner,  a  row-galley,  a 
sloop,  and  2  small  schooners,  they  landed  more  men 
with  some  small  carriage  guns,  which  they  carried  up 
and  placed  them  near  the  old  fort,  with  a  main  guard 
to  secure  themselves  against  our  country  people  that 
might  come  in  that  way. 

"  Now  they  fell  a  plundering  the  chief  houses  and 
the  shops,  which  they  cleared  all ;  the  sufferers  are 
chiefly : 

"  Mr.  Creighton's  house  robbed  and  burnt. 

"  Do.  the  store  on  the  wharf  cleared. 

"  Mr.  Forster's  store. 

"  Mr.  Jessen's  house  spoiled  and  robbed. 

"  Knaut's  heir's  stores  robbed. 

"Mr.  Bolman's  store         do. 


THE    INVASION   OF   LUNENBURG. 


333 


"  Mr.  Wollenhaupt's  stores. 

*•  Mr.  Donig's  shop. 

"  John  Christopher  Rudolfs  shop. 

"  Mr.  Munich's  and  several  other  small  shops. 

"  These  are  to  my  certain  knowledge,  but  there  are 
many  more  robberies  and  damages  done,  whereof  I 
am  not  yet  informed.  I  am  not  able  to  value  the 
whole  loss,  but  think  it  will  amount  to  £ . 

"  In  town  we  are  at  present  almost  without  arms, 
ammunition,  provision,  and  merchandise ;  besides  I 
hear  they  have  carried  off  from  some  houses  money, 
gold  and  silver. 

"  The  surprise  was  so  sudden  that  we  had  no  alarm 
except  by  the  report  of  the  firing  at  the  blockhouse. 

"  When  I  saw  that  Colonel  Creighton  was  carried 
off,  I  ventured  to  expose  myself  by  going  from  house 
to  house  to  see  matters,  and  if  anything  could  be  done; 
I  was  also  with  Mr.  Delaroche  to  beg  his  advice,  who 
afterwards  ventured,  with  some  principal  inhabitants, 
to  go  on  the  vessel  to  try  what  he  could  do  for  Mr. 
Creighton  or  the  town,  but  without  success." 

On  the  morning  of  the  invasion,  four  men  started 
for  Halifax  in  a  boat  by  way  of  the  back  harbor,  and 
arrived  there  in  the  evening.  A  man-of-war  was  sent 
after  the  privateers,  but  was  unable  to  catch  them. 
A  message  was  also  sent  to  Major  Joseph  Pernette, 


^- 1  j 

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334 


ACADIK    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


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LalTavc  Ferry.  He  immediately  set  to  work  collect- 
ing men,  and  a  party  of  90  or  100  reached  town  in  the 
evening,  too  late  to  be  of  any  assistance.  We  have 
often  thought  there  would  have  been  some  "  fun  "  if 
they  had  arrived  before  the  invaders  left,  but  it  was 
just  as  well,  perhaps,  that  they  did  not.  They  would 
not  have  been  able  to  drive  the  "  Yankees"  away,  and 
in  all  prob  ibility  the  town  would  have  been  set  on  fire, 
and  much  valuable  blood  shed. 

The  blockhouse  which  Col.  Creighton  so  bravely 
endeavored  to  defend  was  .situated  on  the  hill  just 
above  Mr.  David  Smith's  shipyard,  and  his  house  was 
close  to  it.  His  colored  servant,  old  Sylvia,  ran  across 
from  the  house  to  the  blockhouse  with  an  apron  full 
of  musket  balls  and  cartridges.  It  is  said  that  she 
aided  in  the  defence  by  loading  some  of  the  guns  and 
even  firing  them.  When  the  blockhouse  was  taken, 
she  was  allowed  to  escape.  She  went  up  to  Mr.  Jes- 
sen's  house,  where  she  packed  up  the  money  and 
plate  in  a  small  chest.  She  had  been  in  the  habit  of 
wearing  very  long  skirts,  and  when  a  party  of  men 
came  to  the  house  to  search  for  valuables,  she  sat  on 
the  chest  and  completely  hid  it  from  their  sight.  She 
pretended  to  be  terribl)  frightened,  and  cried  very 
loud.  One  of  the  men  said,  "See  what's  under  the 
old  thing."     She  redoubled   her  crying  and  lamenta- 


sSfi  ■ 


TUK    INVASION    OF    LUNENHUKO. 


335 


tions,  whereupon  the  leader  said,  "  Let  the  black  ha? 
go."  After  their  departure,  the  cliesi  was  put  into 
the  well,  which  had  already  been  examined.  Thus, 
by  old  Sylvia's  shrewdness,  much  valuable  plate  was: 
prevented  from  falling  into  the  intruders'  hands,  and 
all  they  got  in  that  house  was  a  small  silver  cream-jug 
and  a  few  other  articles. 

This  party  afterwards  went  to  the  house  which 
stood  on  the  site  of  the  one  occupied  by  Robert 
Scott,  Esq.,  and  sat  down.  One  of  them  took  his 
coat  off",  and  replaced  it  with  a  militia  coat  belonging 
to  the  master  of  the  house.  In  one  of  the  pockets  of 
the  cast-off"  coat  was  the  silver  cream -jug  above  men- 
tioned, and  the  soldier,  forgetting  to  take  it  out,  left  it 
behind.     It  is  now  in  possession  of  J.  J.  Rudolf,  Esq. 

Mr.  Jessen,  being  in  the  house  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Lewi:?  Hirtle  as  a  hotel,  fired  at  a  small  party  of 
privateersmen  in  the  street  above.  The  fire  was  re- 
turned, and  two  holes  were  made  by  the  bullets  in  the 
rear  of  the  house,  one  of  which  we  saw  a  few  years 
ago. 

The  privateersmen  took  out  of  the  shops  and  dwell- 
ing houses  almo.st  everything  of  value.  Whatever  was 
useful  to  them  they  carried  on  board  their  vessels  es- 
pecially provisions,  firearms,  and  gunpowder;  what 
they  did  not  want,  they  either  destroyed  or  left  on  the 


,11  u:"'^'^ 


•«  '1  ,1 


If 


i  If 

I- 


336 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


i'N 


lit 


m'l 


streets.  An  eye-witness  has  stated  that  the  streets 
were  strewn  with  laces,  ribbons,  cottons,  and  many- 
other  kinds  of  shop-goods.  They  were  very  generous 
to  the  boys  of  the  town,  giving  them  raisins,  cakes, 
and  other  goou  things.  They  themselves  must  have 
presented  a  very  ludicrous  appearance.  Some  had  on 
red  militia  coats,  others  clothing  of  various  descrip- 
tions, purloined  from  the  owners.  Still  more  fantastic 
was  the  head-gear.  Militia  and  oth  j'*  raps  and  hats, 
women's  bonnets  and  caps,  were  assumed  as  chance 
gave  possession.  What  a  spectacle  the  town  must 
have  presented ! 

About  five  o'clock  the  show  ended.  The  farce  was 
played,  and  the  players  'eft  the  scene.  We  may  be 
very  sure  that  they  left  it  without  any  regrets  on  the 
part  of  the  townspeople,  except,  perhaps,  the  boys. 

With  regard  to  the  bond  for  ^i,ooo  given,  or  said 
to  have  been  given,  to  the  privateersmen  for  the  safety 
of  the  town,  wc  wish  that  we  could  present  a  copy  of 
it  for  our  readers'  perusal. 

An  application  was  made  to  the  Governor  of  Hali- 
fax for  troops  and  r^'litary  stores.  Some  cannon  and 
ammunition  were  sent,  but  no  troops,  as  none  could 
be  spared  at  that  time.  In  October,  however,  a  de- 
tachment of  soldiers  was  sent  down  under  Captain 
Bethel,  and  lodged  in  the  "  Windmill  Battery." 


THE   INVASION   OF   LUNENBURG. 


337 


The  people  of  the  town  and  country  were  kept  in 
constant  fear  of  attack  by  the  presence  of  American 
privateers  on  the  coast,  but  the  town  was  not  again 
molested.  The  close  of  the  war  finally  relieved  the 
people  from  their  apprehension. 

The  evident  attempt,  in  the  account  given,  to  glorify 
the  commander,  is  throughout  characteristic.  The 
consternation  of  the  inhabitants  no  doubt  was  intense. 
To  them  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill,  Valley  Forge  or 
Trenton,  were  nothing;  the  ransacking  of  the  town 
was,  from  their  point  of  view,  the  great  event  of  the 
war.  While  revolution  shook  the  continent,  and  the 
hand  of  Omnipotence  was  shaping  with  momentous 
strokes  the  rough-hewn  destiny  of  America  in  the  in- 
terest of  human  liberty  and  the  elevation  of  the  race, 
Lunenburg  fished  and  slumbered.  The  foray  just  de- 
scribed was  the  only  waking  up  the  town  rec«:;  ved  to 
the  events  then  transpiring. 


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CHAPTER  XXVII. 
SCHMEISSER,  THE  SECOND  MINISTER. 

N  interested  spectator,  who  became  an  involuntary 
actor  in  the  foregoing  episode,  was  the  successor 


of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Scliultz,  the  newly  arrived  Johann 
Gottlob  Schmeisser,  whose  silhouette  portrait  is  here- 


SCHMEISSER,  THE    SECOND    MINISTER. 


339 


with  presented.  Jung  says,  April  28th,  1782:  "We 
then  received  the  intelligence  that  our  minister,  Gottlob 
Schmeisser,  born  in  Weissenfelds  in  Saxony,  who  had 
been  sent  from  Halle,  was  in  Halifax.  He  arrived 
here  safely  the  ist  of  May  1782,  and  the  following 
Sunday,  Rogate,  he  preached  his  initiatory  sermon  to 
a  very  large  audience,  there  being  present  beside  our 
own  people  a  great  many  of  the  German  Reformed  and 
English." 

By  a  comparison  of  the  foregoing  dates,  it  will  be 
observed  that  precisely  two  months  had  elapsed  from 
the  time  of  Mr.  Schmeisser's  arrival,  until  the  ransack- 
ing of  the  town  took  place.  Doubtless,  he  would  be 
moved  to  think  this  new  country  a  place  dangerous  to 
locate  in,  and  all  the  more  would  he  think  so  if  the 
incident  yet  current  concerning  his  part  in  the  contest 
be  correct.  It  is  stated  that  when  the  Americans 
were  engaged  in  plundering  the  town,  some  of  the 
inhabitants  fled,  some  endeavored  to  defend  their 
property  by  armed  resistance,  and  others  hid;  but 
Schmeisser  with  imperturbable  coolness  walked  about, 
his  tall  and  slender  form  made  conspicuous  by  his 
clothing  of  foreign  cut,  looked  on  the  operations  of 
the  marauders,  and  expostulated  with  them  upon  the 
evil  of  their  ways.  But  he  spoke  the  German  tongue, 
which   they  unfortunately  could   not  understand,  so 


i- 


"IS! 


j 
1 

M'' 

Hi 
1  '  ■ 

-I! 


irii 


I  !' 


340 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


that  his  good  advice  was  wasted.  But  this  was  not 
the  worst,  for,  meeting  a  squad  of  the  Yankees  as  he 
crossed  the  parade,  iIkv  rcsciitid  his  continual  inter- 
ference and  seized  him.  lie  resigned  himself,  as  he 
supposed,  to  imprisonment  or  death,  but  it  was  not  so 
bad  as  that:  they  merely  bound  him  hand  and  foot 
and  left  him  lying  on  the  parade  unhurt,  but 
thoroughly  disgusted  with  the  indignity  put  upon 
him;  and  there  he  lay  helpless  until  some  of  his 
friends  ventured  forth  and  released  him. 

The  following   letters,  presented  to  his  parishioners 
by  Mr.  Schmeisser,  explain  themselves: 


(( 


FREYLINGHAUSEN  S    LETTER. 


*^  Highly  Esteemed  Gentlemen  and  Well  Beloved  Friends 
in  Christ. 

"From  your  letter  of  the  8th  November,  1780,  I 
see  that  your  minister,  Friederich  Schultz,  has  left  you 
or  is  about  to  do  so,  and  that  you,  together  with  the 
Rev.  Pasche  of  London,  beg  me  to  choose  another  to 
serve  you  in  his  stead  ;  a  man  suitable  to  your  circum- 
stances. I  am  well  pleased  to  know  of  your  endeav- 
ors to  preserve  the  Evangelical  faith,  to  build  a 
church,  to  call  a  minister,  and  to  gather  a  congrega- 
tion.    The  Lord  will    reward   you  for   this,  because 


SCHMEISSER,  THE    SECOND    MINISTER. 


34  T 


that  amid  the  cares  of  this  life  you  have  not.  ^eglected 
your  spirituil  welfare,  as  many  have  done. 

"  Because  I  now  see  that  you  are  earnestly  bent 
upon  the  edification  of  your  souls  throuj^h  the  minis- 
try of  the  Word,  I  have  given  myself  much  trouble 
and  have  offered  many  prayers  to  God  for  help  to 
find  a  man  devoted  and  sincere  and  qualified  to  serve 
you.  It  gives  me  particular  pleasure,  therefore,  that 
in  the  bearer  of  this,  Johann  Gottlob  Schmeisser,  I 
can  send  to  you  the  man  called  for  you,  and  regularly 
ordained  by  an  orthodox  (ordentlich)  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran Consistory.  I  can  give  you  this  assurance 
that  he  is  firm  in  the  doctrine  of  our  Evangelica'  Lu- 
theran Church,  as  it  is  grounded  in  the  Holy  Script- 
ures and  from  them  set  forth  in  the  Augsburg  Confes- 
sion, and  the  other  Symbolical  Books  of  our  Church; 
and  from  the  departures  from  the  faith,  now  so  com- 
mon in  Germany,  he  is  far  removed.  As  I  have  ob- 
served, he  is  zealous  to  preserve  the  mystery  of  the 
faith  in  pure  minds  in  order  that  both  himself  and  his 
future  hearers  may  be  saved  ;  also,  that  he  is  free  from 
avarice,  because  he  founds  his  trust  not  upon  the  un- 
certain riches  but  upon  the  Living  God.  I,  therefore, 
entertain  the  good  hope  that  he  will  not  only  preach 
the  Word  of  God  in  its  truth  and  purity,  but  also  that 
he  will  strive  to  live  a  blameless  life ;  so  that  both  by 


I'  \: 


I!- 


!,  ■  1^ 


■s\ 


'  't 


i 


■ihi 


|i^ 


It: 
jj.iiii 


342 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


his  teaching  and  example  he  will  edify  the  congrega- 
tion. In  particular  it  is  my  hope  that  he  will  exercise 
the  most  scrupulous  care  in  the  training  of  your 
children,  that  he  will  zealously  instruct  them  in  our 
most  holy  religion,  so  they  may  be  brought  up  in 
the  fear  and  love  of  God  from  their  earliest  youth. 
He  understands  very  well  how  important  a  matter  it 
is  to  have  the  foundation  of  true  doctrine  laid  in 
youth,  and  has  had  good  practice  in  teaching  in  the 
orphan-house  in  this  place. 

"  I  have  no  doubt,  therefore,  that  the  whole  worthy 
congregation  will  receive  him  with  love,  that  they  will 
be  not  only  faithful  hearers  of  the  preached  Word  but 
also  doers  of  the  same,  and  moreover  assist  him  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  and  in  the  preservation  of 
good  order;  so  that  what  good  he  may  teach  their 
children  they  will  help  on  and  encourage  at  home,  as 
right-doing  parents,  by  Christian  life  and  good  admoni- 
tion and  in  this  manner,  through  such  faithful  training 
of  the  youth,  the  pure  doctrine  and  right  living  in 
Christ  may  be  perpetuated  among  your  descendants. 
Rut  God,  who  works  every  good  thing  in  us,  must  add 
His  blessing  to  all  planting  and  watering;  and  also 
take  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schmeisser  upon  his  dangerous 
journey,  under  His  gracious  protection,  so  that  he  will 
arrive  in  safety  among  you.  And  now  let  the  shepherd 


w 


SCHMEISSER,  THE   SECOND    MINISTER. 


343 


and  the  flock  be  given  into  His  particular  care.  This 
I  wish  with  all  my  heart — and  remain  with  sincere 
love  and  friendship. 

"  Your  ob't  serv't. 
'*  GoTT.  Anastasius  Freylinghuysen." 
''Halle,  Dec.  8th,  1781." 

Pasche's   Letter. 

Honorable  and  Worthy  Sirs. 

•'  Elders  and  members  of  the  German  Evangelical 
Lutheran  congregation  at  Lunenburg  in  Nova  Scotia. 

"Your  kind  letter  to  me  bearing  date  12  Nov.  1781, 
per  Messrs.  Watson  and  Rashleigh,  was  received  im- 
mediately upon  the  arrival  of  their  ships. 

**  Our  faithful  Chief  Shepherd  Jesus  has  allotted  to 
you  an  intelligent  and  beloved  Evangelical  Minister  in 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Schmeisser,  the  bearer  of  this  writing — 
for  which  I  join  with  you  in  returning  heartfelt  thanks 
to  the  Lord,  praying  Him  that  He  will  bring  to  you 
in  safety  and  health  your  new  pastor,  teacher  and 
shepherd  of  souls,  and  that  He  will  allow  to  you  for 
many  years  the  enjoyment  of  his  ministrations  with 
abundant  blessings. 

"  You  will  upon  his  arrival  receive  him  with  all 
confidence,  as  your  regularly  called  and  properly  au- 
thorized minister,  and  bestow  upon  him  with  willing 


i 


■A 


\'-\\ 


c 


'i; 


•  •       I 


1^" 


1^^  n 


If 


344 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


Klf  i  ■ 


nm^ 


and  faithful  hearty,  all  due  love,  honor  and  assistance. 
You  will,  in  all  proper  ways,  aid  him  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties,  both  in  the  congregation  and  among  the 
youth,  so  that  his  labors  may  be  both  lightened  and 
sweetened;  thus  will  the  name  and  fame,  both  of  the 
minister  and  of  the  congregation,  come  over  the 
ocean  from  time  to  time  as  a  sweet  fragrance,  to 
quicken  and  revive  others  to  good  works  for  the 
f  lory  of  God. 

"  I  sincerely  regret  that  your  esteemed  friend 
Knaut  has  been  taken  from  you  by  death  last 
December,  and  as  truly  hope  that  ♦^his  great  loss  has 
been  made  good  to  you,  or  soon  will  be.  That  you 
among  yourselves  practice  and  sustain  the  worship  of 
God  according  to  the  Lutheran  faith,  and  bring  up 
vour  children  and  descendants  in  the  same  wav,  no 
sensible  Englishman  will  disapprove  of;  nor  will  they 
from  you,  as  a  congregation  separate  and  distinct  from 
the  English  High  Church,  either  from  yourselves  or 
your  pastor,  withhold  due  honor  and  respect,  provided, 
always,  that  you  grace  the  pure  Evangelical  faith  with 
a  true  Evangelical  Christian  walk  and  life — and,  at 
ev'jry  opportunity,  show  yourselves  loyal  subjects  of 
Great  Britain.  Of  this  you  can  be  the  more  fully 
assured,  since  here,  in  England,  our  German  Luther- 
ans showing  these  qualities  have  the  esteem  of  both 
the  people  and  the  clergy. 


SCHMEIS.SKK,    I'HE    SKCONI)    MINI3TER. 


345 


"The  expenses  of  the  journey  {iind  Jwisigc  pflt-'gt-' 
Kostett),  of  your  Pastor  Schmeisser,  I  am  unable  to 
state,  because  there  will  be  a  number  of  items  attend- 
ing his  departure  yet  to  be  added,  and,  moreover,  I 
do  not  have  the  bill  from  our  dear  Rev.  Prof.  Dr. 
Freylinghausen.  He  has  been  here  in  London  for 
five  weeks,  and  the  ordinary  expenses  amount  to 
about  one  guinea  a  week.  The  Messrs.  Watson  and 
Rashleigh  are  willing  to  advance  tiie  money  to  pay 
all  his  expenses  upon  your  account;  I  will,  therefore, 
draw  on  them  for  the  whole  amount,  and  by  the  first 
opportunity  .send  to  you  an  itemized  bill.  You, 
esteemed  gentlemen  and  friends,  will  then,  with  your 
dear  pastor,  agree  concerning  the.se  and  other  neces- 
sary expenses,  and  in  love  and  equity  arrange  it  all. 
He  is  of  an  amiable  and  peace-loving  disposition,  and 
I  have  all  confidence  in  the  goodness  of  your  inten- 
tions. In  consideration  of  the  great  blessing  which  is 
falling  to  you  and  to  your  children  in  .securing  the 
services  of  a  pure  PLvangelical  •  and  true-hearted 
teacher  and  pastor,  you  will,  I  am  confident,  take  no 
exception  to  these  few  extra  expenses;  particularly  as 
you  have  already  had  the  sad  experience  of  having  a 
worldly-minded  minister  instead  of  one  holding  the 
pure  faith. 

"  I  now  commit  you  all,  with  your  worthy  pastor, 


\h 


A^ 


\ . 


■i 


t^     I; 


■f. 


I  !.i 


i  '^ 


■L 


i     -1 

'        I 
M 
....     li 


y  il      '! 


I 


,.1 


346 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


to  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  love  of 
God,  and  the  communion  and  fellowship  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  remain 

•'Honored  Gentlemen  and  Highly  Respected  Breth- 
ren in  Christ, 

"  Willing  ever  to  Pray  and  to  Serve, 
"  Friederich  Wilhelm  Pasche." 
"Kensingtofi,  London,  Febru  try  2^th,  iy82** 


The  preceding  letters  give  an  idea  of  the  previous 
history  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schmeisser,  more  clear  than 
anything  at  this  late  day  remaining.  But  other  evi- 
dences remain  to  corroborate  the  history  furnished  by 
these.  Here,  for  one  thing,  is  the  "  itemized  bill " 
promised  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pasche.  By  happy  acci- 
dent it  has  been  preserved  from  the  ravages  of  time, 
and  as  an  interesting  relic  of  the  past  is  here  inserted 
without  change. 

Account  of  sundry  expences  attending  the  Revd.  M.  Schmeisser, 
from  Germany  to  Halifax,  1782, 

;^      s,      d.      ;^      i,      d. 
March    i.     To  Paid  Bill  for  his  ExcK^nces 

f;om  Germany  ....  20       i 

91.     Paid   M.   Pasche,  sundry   ex- 
pences for  him  when  in  town.     21 
Paid  M.  Schmeisser  ....      23 


»7 
6 


8 
8 


*5 


IIP  I 


SCHMEISSER,  THE   SECOND 

MINISTER. 

347 

Paid   duty  on    his   Bed   and 

s.      d.      £, 

s.       d. 

Bound  Books    

n 

Warehouse  Expences  .... 

7 

Waterage  and  Wharf  .... 

2 

» 

6 

Paid  his  Passage  from  London 

to  Halifax 

26 

5 

£92     i(>      4 

It  is  quite  likely  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pasche  wrote  as 
he  did  concerning  this  bill,  because  he  had  some  fear 
in  his  mind  that  its  presentation  might  occasion 
trouble.  By  a  comparison  with  the  call  sent  from 
these  poor  people  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gerock,  it  will  be 
observed  that  this  bill  for  traveling  expenses  was  a 
very  little  short  of  the  amount  agreed  upon  as  two 
years'  salary.  But  so  happy  were  they  in  securing  ':he 
services  of  a  trusted  and  worthy  minister,  that  they 
paid  the  bill  of  almost  ;^500  without  a  murmur,  and 
probably  out  of  their  poverty  would  have  doubled 
the  amount,  if  necessary,  just  as  willingly.  And  in  this 
they  were  right.  If  he  left  behind  him  all  that  was 
dear,  in  order  to  sow  to  them  spiritual  things,  it  was 
not  wrong  that  he  should  reap  of  their  temporal 
things.  He  was,  in  leaving  Germany  for  Nova  Scotia, 
leaving  the  privileges,  opportunities  and  amenities  of 
the  Old  World  civilization,  for  the  privations  and  as- 
perities of  the  New.     What  he  would  see  of  the  world 


1,11 


..■■t 


1  ■ 


■r| 


^1 


!) 

n  I 
■       1" 


\  ■     4 


\; 


348 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


f    ' 


I 


m 


'-Mi 


Iji 


:» 


Hi 


on  the  way,  was  in  all  probability,  as  events  showed  it 
in  reality,  all  that  he  would  ever  see  of  it  outside  of 
his  parish.  He  therefore  came  to  London  and  tar- 
ried there  for  a  few  weeks,  in  order  to  see  the  sights 
of  the  great  city.  His  experience  while  there  would 
furnish  him  with  much  that  would  broaden  his  views, 
enlighten  his  mind  and  help  him  in  his  after  work 
throughout  life.  While  he  was  sojourning  in  London 
he  came  into  contact  with  several  distinguished  per- 
sons whose  autographs  are  in  his  album. 

This  autograph  album,  entitled  "  Deinen  Freunden", 
is  a  most  interesting  memento.  It  was  found  in  pos- 
session of  one  of  the  descendants  of  its  former  owner. 
The  dedication  runs  as  follows : — "  Nobilissimis,  Rever- 
endissimiSf  Doctissimis  nee  non  Honor atissimis^  ac  Pracs- 
tantissimis  DominiSy  Patronis^  Fautoribus  et  Amicis 
Plurimum  Colendis  Album  hocce  dedicat  et  commendat 
Joannes  Gottlob  Schmcissery^ 

The  first  page  contains  a  quotation  in  Greek  text 
from  Epictetus,  written  in  Leipsic,  September  14, 
1778.  Then  follows,  on  the  next  three  pages,  a  cer- 
tificate in  the  German  language,  which  translated  reads 
thus: — "We,  the  Burgomaster  and  Town  Council  of 

*  To  the  most  noble,  reverend,  learned,  as  well  as  most  honored  and 
distinguished  Lords,  patrons,  favorers  and  friends  most  highly  revered, 
Joannes  Gottlob  Schmeisser  dedicates  and  commends  this  album, 


'I 


SCHMEISSEK,  THE   SECOND    MINISTER. 


349 


Weissenfelds,  do  hereby  offer  to  all  of  whatever  stand- 
ing in  society  unto  whom  this  shall  come,  our  respect- 
ful greetings. 

"  By  this  writing  it  is  made  known  that  Johaim  Got 
lob  Schmeisser  came  to  us  for  a  certificate  of  his  hon- 
orable birth,  in  order  that  he  might  have  the  same  in 
case  it  should  be  needed.  We  have,  therefore,  ex- 
tracted from  the  Church  Records  of  the  place,  the  fol- 
lowing properly  attested  facts,  namely : — That  the 
father  of  Johann  Gottlob  Schmeisser,  Meister  J. 
Schmeisser,  late  citizen  tailor  of  this  town,  after  a  due 
proclamation,  was  united  in  holy  wedlock  with  Eva 
Dorothea,  the  daughter  of  the  late  Meister  Barthel 
Bauer,  citizen  tailor,  on  the  22d  of  November  ,1735,  and 
as  the  fruit  of  this  union,  above  named,  was  born  a 
free,  honorable  German,  owing  bodily  service  to  no 
man,  the  22d  of  March,  1751.  The  witnesses  to  his 
baptism  were,  specially  invited,  the  following:  Herr  J. 
Christian  Schleusz,  Burgomaster  and  watchmaker  to 
the  court;  Frau  Joanna  Sabina,  wife  of  John  Gottfried 
Reichardt  Brand,  Exciseman  to  H.  R.  H.  the  Elector 
of  Saxony  ;  and  Meister  Gottfried  Batz,  citizen  baker. 
Me  was  presented  to  the  Lord  Jesus  in  holy  baptism 
in  the  town  church  of  Weissenfelds,  and  received  the 
name  of  Johann  Gottlob. 

"  We  furnish  the  foregoing  testimonial,  in  the  hope 


■1  ', 

"I 
1 


;-? 


I 


•  V.    '5  I' 


-I 

I 


'I  r 


I" 


4 


h  • ' 


350 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


IV 


I 

I! 


U      I'- 
ll   - 

1  > 


U 


that  each  Oije  to  whom  it  shall  be  presented  may  give 
it  due  credence,  value  it  as  authoritative,  and  upon  the 
strength  of  it  receive  Mr.  Schmeisser  into  their  society 
and  companionship  with  all  confidence ;  and  we  have 
the  hope  that  he  will  ever  acknowledge  such  favor 
with  all  proper  thankfulness,  by  proving  himself  wor- 
thy of  the  .Game. 

*'  This  certificate  we  do  hereby  attest  as  being  made 
out,  signed  and  sealed  by  the  Burgomaster  in  office, 
VVeissenfelds,  31st  of  August,  1764." 

To  this  is  appended  the  great  seal  of  the  town — 
"  Sigilhim  Civitatis  Weisscnfcldensis''' — with  the  signa- 
tures : 

^''T/ii!  Council  of  the  Town. 
Lie.  Anthon  Daniel  Brascha. 
L.  E.  Burgomaster!' 

Following  this  in  the  book  appears  the  Great  Seal 
of  the  University  of  Halle,  attached  to  a  Latin  testi- 
monial signed  by  Joh.  Christian  Tressler,  Pro-Rector 
and  Professor  of  Philosophy.  The  next  page  bears 
the  autograph  and  private  seal  of  D.  Jo.  Fridericus 
Burscher,  Rector  of  the  University  of  Leipsic.  The 
following  page  has  the  great  seal  of  the  University 
attached  to  a  Latin  testimonial  from  the  same  digni- 
tary. Pages  13  and  14  bear  a  certificate  which  reads 
in  translation  as  follows  • 


1 


SCHMEISSER,  THE    SECOND    MINISTER. 


351 


"  We  the  Burgomaster  and  Council  of  Sorau  do 
hereby  certify  that  Johann  Gottlob  Schmeisser,  who 
for  several  years  has  attended  the  Lyceum  here,  having 
relinquished  his  studies  is  desirous  of  entering  the 
University,  for  which  he  is  now  prepared.  But  as  he 
has  no  fortune  of  his  own  and  can  expect  little  assist- 
ance from  his  family,  in  order  to  aid  him  in  securing 
the  means  of  subsistence  and  for  defraying  the  ex- 
penses of  his  academic  course  we  furnish  him  with  this 
testimonium  paupertatis. 

This  testimonium  we  deem  the  more  necessary  and 
the  better  deserved  because  he  was  a  beneficiary 
whilst  here.  Having  now  qualified  himself  ad  altiora, 
he  wishes  to  press  on.  He  has  led  an  industrious, 
quiet,  and  systematic  life,  and  by  his  good  behaviour 
has  won  the  praise  of  his  teachers  and  of  the  town. 
For  these  reasons  we  believe  him  well  worthy  to  re- 
ceive the  benefice  set  apa:t  for  those  preparing  for  the 
University.  We  have  therefore,  upon  his  application, 
granted  to  him  this  testimonium  pmipertatis.  Under 
our  hand  and  the  seal  of  the  city  of  Sorau,  April  9th, 
1777." 
Here  follows  the  ''Sigill.  Civitatis  SoravicpT 
^*  Burgomaster  and  Council  of  the  City'' 
Page  16  has  the  autograph — ^^Loewe — Examinateiiy 
des  Compts  des  Finances,  de  S.  A.  S.   d'   Electe  de 


i 


ill 


■  : , 


\,\ 


*     ■     !■■'-  1  ' 


.  I' 


-\ 


\\ 


\   .    i.' 


>  ,  ^S 


I'd  h 


1^  '. 
I    I 


352 


ACAUIE    AND    THE   ACADIANS. 


'I:    1 

ill'         '' 


I' 


liN^;   i 


Saxe.''  Following  is  the  autograph  of  Prof.  Dr. 
Forster.  Further  on  appears  an  extract  from  a  letter 
from  Director  Freylinghausen  of  the  Orphans'  Home, 
Halle,  to  which  is  appended  his  autograph.  It  would 
appear  from  this  extract  that  this  distinguished  divine 
found  time  amid  the  multiplied  duties  of  his  office  to 
remember  the  lonely  missionary,  whom  he  had  been 
instrumental  in  sending  forth.  His  brief  note  is 
full  of  thoughtful  solicitude.  Doubtless,  coming  from 
such  a  source,  it  was  held  as  a  particular  treasure  and 
as  such  thus  carefully  preserved.  It  reads  as  follows : 
"As  it  appears  that  under  the  good  hand  of  God 
the  affairs  of  the  new  station  in  New  Scotland  will 
now  go  well,  I  wish  in  a  few  lines  of  my  own  writing 
to  express  my  joy  thereat.  The  ways  of  the  Lord 
are  goodness  and  truth,  even  if  our  short  sight  may 
behold  in  them  but  crooked  and  misleading  paths. 
God's  ways  arc  above  criticism,  perfect.  I  preached 
upon  this  subject  day  before  yesterday,  in  the  Orphans' 
Home,  from  the  text  Ps.  xxv.  10.  I  did  so  because  I 
wanted  to  impress  our  orphan  children  in  particular 
with  this  blessed  truth;  and,  moreover,  because  our 
superintendent,  Pastor  Weissen,  who  died  in  his  85th 
year,  was  a  remarkable  proof  in  point,  his  wliole  life 
bearing  special  witness  to  the  truth.  In  like  manner, 
the  good  Lord  will  always  lead  you  in  the  way  that  is 


SCHMEI5SER.  THE    SECOND    MINISTER. 


353 


I.: 


best,  if  you  but  resign  yourself  in  childlike  confidence 
to  His  guidance.  The  earth  is  everywhere  His — 
West  where  he  has  called  vou,  as  well  as  here  in  the 
East.  Wherever  good  human  thought  moves  He 
Himself  goes  before.  Wherever  you  yourself  go  He 
goes  before.  He  guides,  He  rules  and  he  will  con- 
tinue to  rule  with  fatherly,  loving  hands,  and 
strengthen  you  for  every  good  work  with  the  power 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  G.  A.  Fkevlinghausen." 

We  now  behold  this  faithful  pastor  laboring  for  the 
edification  of  the  church  to  which  he  had  devoted  his 
life.  He  was  far  away  from  the  home  and  the  friends 
of  his  youth,  but  near  to  God.  Every  trace  left  behind 
by  him  on  life's  journey  proves  him  to  have  been  a 
heavenly  minded  fellow-worker  together  with  Chri.st. 
The  same  sweet  spirit  which  ruled  in  love  over  the 
mind  and  through  the  life  of  the  sainted  Freylinghausen 
appears  to  have  governed  him.  And  from  this,  and 
perhaps  from  this  alone,  we  can  judge  concerning  the 
state  of  matters  in  the  spiritual  life  of  the  congregation; 
for  "  there  shall  be  like  people,  like  priest." 

The  records  show  that  faithful  attention,  during  the 
period  of  his  ministry,  was  given  to  the  celebration  of 
the  sacraments.  Holy  Baptism  was  commonly  admin- 
istered to  infants  a  week  or  ten  days  after  birth,  and 
the  Lord's  Supper  was  given  very  regularly  and  with 

83 


I  • 


<4 


'I  1 


t 


'*  1     I 


m 

f" 

'       T^ 

V' 

liii 


n 


354 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


but  short  intervals  of  time  intervening.  As  many  as 
twenty  celcbiot'ons  of  this  Holy  Sacrament  are  re- 
corded in  a  single  year. 

After  Mr.  Schmeisser's  arrival  it  would  appear  that 
his  first  proceeding  was  lo  secure  for  himself  a  help- 
meet, according  to  the  Scripture  which  declares  that 
"  it  is  not  good  for  a  man  to  be  alone."  He  had  re- 
spect also  for  St.  Paul's  injunction  that  "a  bishop  then 
must  be  blameless,  the  husband  of  one  wife."  In  the 
town  was  the  worthy  elder  of  the  church,  Wendel 
Wiist,  a  master  blacksmith,  married  to  the  widow 
Biehler.  This  good  woman  had  brought  with  her  into 
her  second  husband's  house  several  bright  and  engag- 
ing daughters.  Scarcely  had  the  young  minister  set 
foot  within  the  precincts  of  his  parish  ere  he  began  the 
short  courtship  which  eventuated  in  securing  for  him 
a  faithful  wife  and  loving  companion  in  the  person  of 
Sophia,  the  eldest  of  these  daughters.  Accordingly 
we  find,  in  the  album  referred  to  previously,  the  fol- 
lowing entry:  "Sophia  Biehler  was  married  to  me,  J. 
G.  S.,  in  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Zion  church  of  this 
place,  in  1782,  July  3.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  (Re- 
formed minister)  preached  the  sermon  on  this  occasion 
in  our  church  from  the  text,  Song  of  Solomon  iv.  7,  8." 
His  wife  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  was  in  her  twenty- 
fifth  year,  having  been  born  in  1757. 


Ik: 


ki 


SCHMEISbER,  THE   SECOND    MINISTER. 


355 


Speaking  of  his  family  affairs,  it  may  be  here  stated 
that  this  union  was  blessed  of  GoJ;  the  fruit  of  it  be- 
ing six  children,  whose  descendents  even  now  are 
with  us,  honored  of  all.  On  the  30th  of  April,  1783, 
the  first  daughter  was  born,  and  baptized  on  the  4th 
of  May  following.  In  the  record  of  her  baptism,  the 
statement  is  made  "  In  memory  of  the  peace  this  day 
proclaimed  here  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  Provinces  of  America,  she  was  named 
Friederica  Renata."  The  peace  alluded  to  was 
that  of  the  general  treaty  signed  in  Paris  on  the  20th 
of  January.  This  is  a  fair  illustration  of  the  olden- 
time  slowness  in  the  transmission  of  intelligence. 
January  20th,  the  treaty  was  signed  which  gave  in- 
dependence and  sovereignty  to  the  United  States ; 
March  23rd,  the  tidings  1  cached  Philadelphia;  Con- 
gress transmitted  the  news  to  General  Washington, 
by  whom  it  was  received  April  17th,  and  here  it  was 
proclaimed  in  Lunenburg  May  4th,  three  months 
and  a  half  after  the  event  had  occurred. 

The  other  children  of  Pastor  Schmcisser  were 
Christopher  Traugott,  born  i6th  October,  1784; 
Ehrenfried,  April  6th  1787;  Gotthold,  7th  Novem- 
ber, 1789;  Maria  Barbara,  9th  October,  1791  ;  and 
Sophia  Amelia,  27th  April,  1795. 

Still  following  the  order  of  things  in  the  album,  we 


r'a 


'1  n 


i 


I    rl 


Ni 


'.i 


35C 


ACADIE    AND    THE   ACADIANS. 


P 


ri  ! 


i:^|!i' 


m'\  . 


pass  the  autographs  of  sundry  student  friends  in  Halle 
and  Leipsic,  until  on  page  ninety  we  find  the  follow- 
ing :  "  It  is  a  good  thing,  to  have  a  clear  head  as  well 
as  a  clean  heart. — Whitefield."  Below  this  is  written 
in  a  different  hand,  "I  hope  you  will  not  forget  a 
Friend  uic  brother,  who  is  nothing,  but  whose  all  is 
Christ-  -iiiirc^-hardt." 

"London,  in  the  o.  voy,  the  2ist  February,  1782,  be- 
fore your  departure  to  North  America." 
Page  1 10  contains  the  well-known  saying  of  B.  de 
Verulam  quoted  by  M.  Wolffg.  Ulrici,  Consistorial 
Assessor,  Pfortenac,  April  1777:  '^Philosophia  obiter 
Hbata  a  Deo  abdiicit^  sed  peititus  cxhansta  ad  etindem 
rediicity 

Page  143  is  filled  with  a  water-color  painting  rep- 
resenting a  youth  descending  to  an  old  man  lying  on 
the  ground,  bearing  to  him  a  legendary  device,  "  Tu- 
gend  ist  erne  Tochtcr  des  Himmels  iind  uberlebet  das 
Grab.  Die  wahler  "  Crt;r/7/j  Johann  Gottlob  Haupt, 
pinxr  The  following  page  bears  the  sentiment: 
"  From  different  regions,  different  climes  we  come. 
We  are  Brothers  still,  and  Heaven  is  our  Home." 
Page  199  reads  thus  : 

Lipsia  cum  quondam  Juvenem  TE  docta  ienerat^ 
Tunc  TIB  I  cum  Reliquis  ipse  Magister  eram. 


J ' 


m 


'<  ( 


SCHMEISSER,  THE   SECOND    MINISTER. 


357 


Janique  doces  Populos  medio  sub  sole  calentes, 
Indorumque  greges  ad  Sacra  fiostra  vocas. 

Is  Ziegenbaldus  ftdt  et  Plittschavius  olim  ; 
In  messes  ho  nun  TE  pia  fata  fenint. 

Gratia  sancta  DEI  TE  concouiitetur  euntem, 
Atqiie  Evangclium  vindicet  ipsa  smun. 
Lipsiae  M.  Georgius  Ernestus  Hebenstreit 

d.  ^7,  Martii  S,  Theol.  B<    -tl. 

1779- 
Page  205  :  La  lagesse  de  rhomm\  ^a*  reluire  saface^ 

et  son  regard  farouche  en  est  chan^  e. 

Leipzig,  Angely, 

le  2^  May,  L.  and  C. 

1778.  de  lEglise  Refonttice. 

Besides  these  samples  from  this  interesting  old  book 
there  are  many  others  of  equal  interest,  the  whole 
number  of  pages  being  358;  all  being,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  more  interesting  to  those  occupying  relations 
nearer  the  former  owner  than  those  of  the  general 
public.  Wherefore  we  close  the  book  with  a  notice 
of  page  297.  Here  appears  a  water-color  painting, 
simple  but  expressive;  a  new-made  grave,  beside  it  a 
tree  in  full  leaf  broken  to  the  ground.  Above  this  is 
written  in  Hebrew,  "  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liv- 
eth,  and  that  He  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the 
earth." 


4 


«H 


t 


j:j  \i, 


■  ''■*  € 


„f      !  ! 


I   ' 


,/V 


li 


358 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


!i 


!■  ;i 


It  would  appear  from  a  notice  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Schmeisser's  death,  entered  by  some  unknown  hand 
in  the  church  records,  that  during  the  greater  part  of 
his  pastorate  he  was  laboring  under  some  bodily  ail- 
ment which  finally  brought  him  to  the  grave.  The 
brief  record  is:*  "  1806,  December  21st,  Johann  Gott- 
lob  Schmeisser,  Evangelical  Lutheran  Minister,  died, 
after  an  illness  of  17  years,  aged  55  years  and  9 
months,  less  one  day.  He  had  joyfully  served  in  his 
office  24  years  and  8  months,  and  lived  in  happy  wed- 
lock 24  years  and  6  months.  At  his  funeral  a  sermon 
was  preached  from  Ps.  ciii.  13-19,  which  passage  he 
himself  had  chosen.  His  last  admonition  to  his 
friends  was  from  the  hymn,  '  Seelcn  Brmitigam,  Jesu, 
Gotics-Lamm!  13-15."  Jung  says:  "He  died  the 
2 1st  of  December,  1806.  He  baptized  in  the  24  years 
and  8  months  of  his  ministry  1729  children,  confirmed 
7CX:)  persons,  married  201  couples,  and  buried  380." 


Church  Recopds,  Vol.  II.,  p.  224 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


ONE  OF  THE  HESSIANS. 

A  T  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  Loyal- 
-^■^  ists  together  with  many  disbanded  soldiers  went 
to  Nova  Scotia  and  Canada,  where  they  were  matlc 
welcome.  In  many  cases  the  Government  issued  sup- 
plies, gave  bounties  in  money,  and  title-deeds  for  lands 
to  these  refugees.  A  large  number  of  these  people 
settled  in  Shclburne,  in  the  southwest  part  of  Nova 
Scotia.  There,  behind  rocky  and  forbidding  shores, 
lies  a  surface  of  level  land.  The  harbor  is  nine  miles 
long  by  two  miles  wide,  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
best  in  the  Province.  At  the  entrance  is  McNutt's 
Island.  Here,  at  the  head  of  this  magnificent  harbor, 
before  the  Loyalists  came,  was  a  small  settlement  made 
by  the  Acadians  and  called  Port  Razoir.  With  the 
advent  of  the  newcomers  a  change  took  place.  The 
population  sprang  up  from  perhaps  one  hundred  to 
twelve  thousand.  A  bustling  city,  with  the  most  in- 
habitants of  any  in  the  Province,  more  even  than  the 
capital,  had  arisen  like  the  creation  of  a  dream. 
Many  persons  of  wealth  and  dignity  were  among  the 
citizens.     Some  had  brought  with  them  their  servants, 

(359) 


i 


i 


'      »4' 


I.; 


I  If. 


V:' 


t 

! 


36o 


ACADTE    AND   THK    ACADIANS. 


i 


and  others  their  negro  slaves.  Governor  Parr  visited 
the  town  in  1783  and  gave  it  its  name.  But  unfortu- 
nately for  its  people  there  was  no  employment  from 
which  they  might  ^ain  the  means  of  subsistence. 
Idleness  tempted  to  evil,  drinking  and  gambling  were 
resorted  to  as  pastime  and  the  decline  of  the  town 
was  as  rapid  as  its  rise.  The  Government  supplies 
were,  after  two  or  three  years,  withdrawn ;  many 
of  the  Loyalists  returned  to  the  United  States,  and 
others  removed  to  other  parts  of  Nova  Scotia. 

Among  these  di.sbanded  soldiers  who  found  their 
way  to  Shelburne,  was  one  who  afterward  filled  an 
honorable  position  in  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Lunen- 
burg. His  Autobiography,  translated  from  the  origi- 
nal German  MS.  for  this  work  by  the  Rev.  J.  A. 
Schefifer,  former  pastor  of  St.  John's  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church,  Mahone  Bay,  N.  S.,  as  will  be  observed, 
gives  us  another  glimpse  of  our  early  acquaintance, 
the  Rev.  Frederick  Schultz,  and  presents  a  brief  but 
clear  outline  of  an  eventful  life. 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF   JOHN    PHILIP   AULENBACH. 

I,  John  Philip  Aulenbach,  was  born  at  Goettingen 
in  the  Electorate  of  Hanover,  A.  D,  1755.  My  father 
was  a  Jurist  (Counsellor  at  Law),  born  at  Zweibriicken. 
My  parents  dying  when  I  was  quite  young,  I  was 


ONE   OF    THE    HESSIANS. 


361 


brought  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  by  two  of  my 
mother's  unmarried  sisters.  In  my  fourteenth  year  I 
was  confirmed  in  the  Evany^elical  Lutheran  Religion 
by  the  Superintendent  Fried'^nci,  in  St.  James'  Church, 
in  whicli  I  had  been  baptized  and  wherein  I  received 
the  Lord's  Supper  on  the  Second  Easter  Day,  1769. 

Soon  afterward  I  traveled  in  the  service  or  went 
from  place  to  place  as  the  attendant  of  a  prominent 
and  distinguished  gentleman.  I  learned  to  play  sev- 
eral musical  instruments.  I  was  united  in  marriage 
March  twenty- eightli,  1776,  by  the  Superintendent 
Balhorn  in  the  Neustadt  on  tlie  Seine  (about  three  or 
four  hours  or  between  nine  and  twelve  miles  from 
Hanover),  witli  Dorothea  Magdalena,  the  youngest 
daughter  of  John  Henry  Herbst,  blacksmith,  at  that 
time  living  in  the  town  of  Grunde  along  the  Hartz 
Mountains. 

Then  I  proceeded  with  the  Hessian  troops,  bought 
by  King  George  HI.,  to  England.  There  I  was  chosen 
Trumpeter  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  of  Light 
D''agoons  and  sailed  with  them  to  America,  where 
we  arrived  after  a  long  voyage,  October  eighteenth, 
1776,  near  New  York  Lighthouse.  During  the  eight 
years  that  followed  I  served  as  Trumpet  Major  in  the 
campaigns  in  the  Provinces  of  New  York,  New  Jersey, 
Philadelphia    or     Eastern     Pennsylvania,    Louisiana, 


a 


'^if 


HI 


>  .> 


(   • 


■  J 


^1 


362 


ACADIE   AND    THE   ACADIANS. 


m 


Georgia,  and  through  the  whole  of  South  Carolina. 
I  received  my  discharge  in  1783  at  New  York,  and 
went  to  the  newly-founded  town,  Shelburne,  in  Nova 
Scotia. 

Since  now  in  the  Spring  of  1784,  the  Lutheran  min- 
ister Frederick  Schultz  came  to  Shelburne  and  gath- 
ered a  congregation,  I,  with  five  others,  was  elected 
an  elder  and  to  lead  the  singing.  But  as  the  minister 
left  us  in  the  autumn,  after  five  months'  stay,  I  con- 
ducted the  services.  Also  through  a  memorial  or  pe- 
tition to  Governor  Parr,  I  secured  two  lots  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  square  for  church  purposes. 
We  also  had  collected  money  from  the  citizens  to 
build  a  church.  And  as  we  expected  Chaplain  Wag- 
ner of  Naples  to  come  to  Shelburne,  I  urged  that  the 
church  be  built  at  once.  Then  the  elder  whom  we 
had  elected  treasurer  absconded  with  the  money  that 
had  been  collected.  Three  of  the  other  elders  had 
already  moved  away.  Then  I  and  the  other  one 
rented  a  house  at  our  own  expense  in  which  to  hold 
service. 

Now  a  man  by  the  name  of  Blysteiner  from  Lunen- 
burg informed  us  that  the  elder  who  had  run  away 
with  the  money  was  at  Lunenburg,  Blysteiner  also 
advised  me  to  go  with  him  to  Lunenburg,  where  I 
might  probably  be  elected  schoolmaster,  especially  as 


ONE   OF    THE    HESSIANS. 


363 


they  wanted  a  good  precentor.  And  as  many  people 
had  moved  away  from  Shelburne,  the  royal  supplies 
were  being  discontinued,  and  there  was  no  way  for 
earning  anything,  I  went  with  him  and  arrived  at 
Lunenburg,  August  fifteenth,  1785.  I  was  soon  ap- 
pointed teacher  of  the  parochial  school  and  leader  of 
the  singing  in  the  Lutheran  congregation. 

August  sixteenth,  1 801,  it  pleased  God  to  take  from 
this  world  my  beloved  wife,  aged  about  fifty-two  years. 
Since  I  was  left  alone  in  the  school-house,  which  was 
bought  on  my  account  in  1786,  I  was  married  again 
November  twelfth,  1 80 1,  with  Catharine  Barbara,  the 
youngest  daughter  of  the  late  FVederick  Hahn,  inhab- 
itant and  blacksmith  of  Centre  Range.  By  this  mar- 
riage we  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of 
whom  are  living  as  long  as  the  Lord  will.  The  oldest 
daughter  is  married  to  Matthias  Naas,  and  the  oldest 
son  Philip  is  married  and  has  four  children.  (The 
translator's  note  here  says  this  Philip  has  now  living 
four  sons  and  four  daughters.) 

In  1789  Pastor  Schmeisser's  health  began  to  fail 
and  his  disease  increased  in  severity  every  year. 
Hence  I  was  obliged  frequently  to  officiate  in  holding 
public  divine  service  and  to  give  catechetical  lectures 
in  the  Lutheran  church,  especially  during  the  last 
years  of  his  life,  and   I  had  to  atterd   nearly  all  the 


■i 


.1 

''I 


,  ? 


"4 


il 


«•! 


I . 


ft 
h 


I) 


364 


ACADIE   AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


i    . 


m4 


funerals  out  in  the  country.  After  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  Schmeisser  of  blessed  memory,  December  21st, 
1806,  unti'  Ma\-  ist,  1808,  whcMi  the  Rev.  Mr.  Temme 
landed,  I  conducted  the  .ser\  ices  in  the  church  and 
buried  the  dead.  And  as  Pastor  Temme  was  often  ill, 
I  was  frequently  called  upon  to  read  the  service  and 
sermons  in  the  church,  and  to  bury  the  dead  in  the 
country,  and  a  number  in  town.  But  upon  my  return 
from  La  Have,  after  burying  an  aged  Mrs.  Fancie  or 
Vanzie,  February  eighth,  1819,  I  fell  and  badly  broke 
my  right  leg.  I  had  already  been  for  a  long  time 
lame  in  the  left  one,  and  was  now  a  poor  cripple  who 
could  earn  little  or  nothing  any  more.  My  hearing  I 
lost  through  ringing  the  bell,  having  to  stand  too  near 
it.  Yet  T  still  taught  the  school  for  a  few  years  after 
my  unfortunate  accident. 

1  served  the  congregation  thirty-four  years.  Dur- 
ing the  Rev.  Schmeisser's  pastorate,  I  buried  fifty,  and 
after  his  death  seventeen.  In  Pastor  Temme's  time  I 
buried  seventy-five:  total,  one  hundred  and  foity-two; 
of  which  fourteen  were  German  Reformed  (because 
the  aged  Pastor  Comingo,  on  account  of  infirmities, 
could  not  attend  to  the  funerals),  and  six  of  the 
Church  of  England.  Baptized  nine  sick  children.  I 
wish  my  funeral  text  to  be  i  Tim.  i.  15  :  "This  is  a 
faithful   saying,   and   worthy   of  all   accept.uion,   that 


ONE   OF   THE    HESSIANS. 


365 


r; 


Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners,  of 
whom  I  am  chief."  * 

*  Note  by  the  Translator. — The  successor  of  the  Rev.  Pastor  Temme 
faithfully  visited  the  sorely  afflicted  subject  of  this  autobiography. 
Malignant  cancer  in  the  face  caused  his  deatli.  Pastor  Cossmann  ex- 
horted him  to  steadfastness  in  the  fliith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  whom  he  had 
served  so  long,  and  administered  to  him  the  Holy  Communion  and  the 
consolations  of  our  blessed  religion.  He  preached  his  funeral  sermon 
from  the  text  he  had  cho.sen.  A  large  number  of  grandchildren  and 
.some  greatgrandchildren  of  John  Philip  Aulenbach  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  congregations  of  the  Mahone  Bay  parish,  in  the  bounds 
of  which,  by  a  peaceful  lake,  his  son  John  Philip  still  resides,  an  hon- 
ored office-bearer  in  the  Church.  Because  the  ringing  of  the  bell  had 
made  him  deaf,  the  aged  schoolmaster  requested  that  it  should  not  be 
tolled  at  his  funeral,  a  request  that  was  not  denied. 


•     1 


■     ■'!  ^f 


\ 


>    If 


;-"    !i 


1^'! 


'I 


II     I 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
TEMME,  THE  THIRD  MINISTER. 

THE  congregation,  deprived  of  its  pastor,  immedi- 
ately made  application  to  the  Ministerium  of  Pcnn- 


K 


J 


K 


sylvania  to  have  a  successor  sent  them.     The  difficul- 
ties which  beuet  them  in  their  earlier  efforts  to  com- 

(  366 ) 


TEMME,  THE   THIRD    MINISTER. 


367 


niunicate  with  that  body  appear  at  this  time  to  have 
been  all  overcome.  The  time  intervening  until  an- 
other minister  arrived  was  not  long,  at  least  it  wili  not 
appear  to  be  so  when  compared  with  the  many  years 
of  weary  waiting  which  marked  their  feeble  first  en- 
deavors, and  when  the  isolated  position  of  the  congre- 
gation is  considered.  They  were  obliged  to  wait  only 
a  year  and  four  months  until  God  sent  them  another 
leader.  His  portrait,  in  the  powdered  hair  fashicpable 
in  those  days,  is  herewith  presented.  Jung  says,  "  On 
the  28th  of  April,  1808,  our  niini.^ter  the  Rev.  F'erdi- 
nand  Conrad  Temme  arrived  and  preached  on  the  Kst 
of  May  following  and  each  subsequent  Sunday;  but 
owing  to  some  hindrances  he  did  not  preach  his  initia- 
tory sermon  until  the  29th  of  May,  the  Sunday 
E.xaudi." 

To  the  facile  pen  of  Colonel  J.  W.  Andrews  C.  £.,  a 
grandson  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Temme  nd  great-grandson 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schmeisser,  we  e  indebted  for  the 
subjoined  translation  of  an  autu  )iograph}'  written  in 
the  old  family  Bible. 

Translation.  "  Ferdinand  C  arad  Temme,  the  only 
son  of  thj  late  Daniel  Temme.  lAangelical  Lutheran 
minister  of  lAuienberg  in  the  Dukedom  of  Brunswick, 
and  his  wife  Marie  Antionette,  was  born  the  12th  of 
March,  1 763,  .>nd  baptized  the  i^t':-  of  March  following. 


. '  ,'  »■ 


f:     I 


■I, 


"1 


\v 


^h    * 


368 


ACADIE   AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


[ii::u 


\^ 


4 


His  sponsors  were:  ist.  His  Grace  the  Duke  Ferdi- 
nand of  Brunswick  and  General  Field  Marshal  to  the 
King  of  Great  Britain.  2nd.  The  child's  grand- 
mother, the  widow  of  the  late  Prior  and  ' Stifts-predi- 
gersl  Jacob  Albrccht  Temme. 

"  He  was  confirmed  with  other  young  people  of  his 
father's  congregation  on  the  Sunday  Quasimodogeniti, 

'*  After  three  and  a  half  years'  study  of  theology  at 
Helmstaedt  and  Gottingen,  he  was,  on  the  I2th  of 
May,  1783,  examined  in  the  Consistory  of  Wolfen- 
buettcl  and  in  1787  ordained  .^n  Evangelical  Lutheran 


minister. 


'"  In  1790,  by  request  of  ^lis  Grace  the  Duke  Ferdi- 
nand, as  Professor  of  Philology  and  Philosophy,  he 
publicly  discussed  and  defended  the  ' Progrmmne  dc 
It'gibiis  dii'i/iis  hand  quaquaui  atbitrariis,'  which  thesis 
was  afterward  transmitted  to  the  University  of 
Gottingen,  whence  he  received  the  honorary  title 
Doctor  PJdlosopliice. 

"  By  permission  of  the  then  reigning  Duke,  Carl 
Wilhelm  Ferdinand,  he  founded  a  private  academy 
for  the  education  of  fourteen  noblemen's  sons  and  at 
the  same  time  served  the  Church  as  vacanz  minister 
for  nearly  17  years. 

•'As    in   the   year    1806   the   French   troops,   under 


*l 


TEMNf?:,  TMK    THIRD    MIM>IEK. 


'''9 


Napoleon  Bonaparte,  invaded  his  fatherland  and  were 
quartered  in  his  native  town,  the  vicissitudes  of 
war  compelled  the  disbandment  of  his  academy,  his 
pupils  were  scattered  abroad,  and  himself  forced  to 
dispose  of  his  effects  and  flee  the  town, 

*'  By  special  permission  of  the  Government  he  was 
allowed  to  leave  his  country  and  travel  for  two  years 
in  Switzerland  anrl  the  United  States  of  America. 

"In  November,  1807.  he  came  to  Philadelphia  in  a 
ship  from  Amsterdam,  the  "Minerva,"  and  in  the  month 
of  February  or  March  intended  to  return  to  his  Father- 
land, which  would  then  be  evacuated  by  the  French 
troops.  The  old  governm*  nt  in  the  meanwhile  was 
transferred  from  the  Crown  Prince  of  P^ngland  to  the 
Young  Duke.  But  unexpectedly  an  embargo  was 
laid  upon  all  vessels  from  America  and  Germany's 
harbors  were  closed  for  seven  years ;  he  was  therefore 
obliged  to  accept  a  vacancy  in  the  ministry  in  Penn- 
sylvania, from  which  he  was  called  by  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Lunenberg,  Nova  Scotia,  which  church  was 
then  vacant  by  reason  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Johann 
Gottlob  Schmeisser. 

"  He  says, '  I  reluctantly  accepted  this  call,  for  reasons 
to  myself  to  this  day  unaccountable  and  unknown, 
and  on  the  5th  of  February,  1808,  commenced  the 
voyage   to  this   Siberia  of  America.     On  the  28th  of 


^  ■  i 


'-^ 


». 


<'■ »' 


vlJv 


»    M: 


i 


.    If 


|i   ' 


370 


ACADIE    AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


;i-- 


April  in  the  same  year,  I  first  trod  the  soil  of  Nova 
Scotia  at  2  o'clock  at  night. 

***In  December,  1809,  I  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Maria  Barbara  Schmeisser,  the  daughter  of  my  pre- 
decessor, and  I  now  wait  for  the  redemption  of  th9 
body.'" 

After  the  Rev.  Mr.  Temme  took  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation it  entered  upon  a  new  era  of  prosperity ; 
everything  flouri.shed  and  harmony  prevailed.  But 
alas!  for  the  bright  hopes  of  the  well-wishers  of  Zion, 
there  arose  ere  long  certain  disturbers  of  the  peace 
who  wrought  harm  to  the  full  extent  of  their  power. 
These  were  dealt  with  according  to  the  laws  of  Scrip- 
ture and  of  the  Church,  as  the  subjoined  extract  from 
the  records  o^  the  congregation  shows.* 

EXCOMMUNICATION  : 

Pronounced  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  first 
Sunday  after  Trinity,  181 2.  In  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ.     Amen. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  and  in  particulai, 
the  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Lunenburg, 
N.  S.,  that  the  four  below-mentioned  members  of  this 
congregation  through  their  disorderly  and  un-Christian 
conduct  have  made  themselves  liable  to  excommuni- 

*  Church  Records,  Vol.  II,  pp.   122  sq. 


TEMME,  THE   THIRD    MINISTER. 


371 


cation.  Having  been  called  upon  a  few  weeks  since 
and  urged  to  acknowledge  and  repent  of  the  wrong 
they  have  done  the  Church  and  congregation,  they  re- 
fused to  do  so,  and  in  the  four  weeks  intervening  since 
then  seem  rather  to  have  grown  more  hardened. 
Therefore,  it  was  resolved,  that  the  ban  of  exconimun- 
cation,  which  belongs  to  the  clergy,  should  be  publicly 
pronounced  upon  them. 

(Here  follow  the  names.) 

The  accusations  brought  against  them  by  so  many 
and  trustworthy  witnesses  are  as  follows : 

I.  They  are  impious  blasphemers  of  the  holy 
office  of  the  ministry,  as  here  upheld  after  the  com- 
mand and  example  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  having  endeav- 
ored to  make  the  office  itself  ridiculous  and  its  labors 
fruitless  among  the  members  of  the  congregation. 
They  have  all  (and  one  in  particular)  made  themselves 
guilty  of  reviling  with  outrageous  language  the  doc- 
trines of  our  most  holy  Church,  and  the  true  Christian 
faith,  thereby  committing  a  grievous  sin  against  God 
and  man,  and  making  themselves  an  offense  and 
nuisance  to  the  whole  congregation. 

n.  They  are  open  and  acknowledged  disturbers  ot 
the  peace,  both  as  between  the  minister  and  the  con- 
gregation, and  between  the  congregation  and  the  offi- 
cers ;  as  also  by  unsettling  the  faith  of  the  people  and 
disturbing  the  public  worship. 


^■■^  11 


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372 


ACADIE   AND  THE   ACADIAMS. 


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III.  They  are  inciters  of  rebellion  and  ringleaders 
to  the  same,  seeking  to  cause  the  people  to  fall  away 
from  the  pure  faith  as  set  forth  in  God's  Word,  and  on 
this  account  are  faithless  members  of  the  congrega- 
tion. 

The  justification  of  this  proceeding  against  the 
above  named  convicts,  in  the  name  of  the  church  and 
congregation,  and  in  the  power  of  the  ministerial 
office,  is  founded  upon  the  following  passages  of  Scrip- 
ture: I  Cor.  V.  6-9,  ir,  13.  2  Thess.  iii.  6,  14. 
Gal.  V.    10.     Luke  x.    16.     Matt,  xviii.   15-18. 

Therefore:  i.  According  to  this  Scripture,  the 
names  of  these  persons  will  be  .stricken  from  our 
Church  Register  and  the  accompanying  remarks,  set- 
ting forth  their  wicked  conduct,  written  therein. 

2.  They  have  from  this  day  forth  no  part  or  lot  in 
the  Church,  and  are  excluded  from  the  rights  and 
privileges  thereof,  from  the  use  of  the  Sacraments, 
from  the  right  of  being  sponsor  to  a  child,  and  from 
Christian  burial. 

3.  If  they,  without  giving  heed  to  this,  continue  to 
come  to  our  services  as  blasphemers  and  disturbers  of 
the  peace,  then  shall  admission  be  denied  them.  If 
necessary  for  the  preservation  of  order,  they  shall  be 
arrested  and  dealt  with  according  to  the  civil  law. 
And  in  case  they  continue  their  wicked  and  blasphe- 


TF.MME,  THE   THIRD    MINISTKK. 


373 


mous  expressions  and  slanders,  then  the  highest  de- 
gree of  the  law  of  excommunication,  according  to 
which,  upon  the  authority  of  Holy  Scripture,  they 
shall  be  delivered  over  to  Satan,  shall  be  pronounced 
upon  them. 

4.  This  excommunication  from  our  fellowship  has 
reference  to  their  persons  alone,  not  to  their  families, 
so  long  as  they  do  not  follow  them  in  their  evil  wa^-.s. 

5.  Although  they  are  excommunicated  from  our 
Church  fellowship,  yet  they  shall  not  thereby  be  ex- 
cluded from  the  common  offices  of  humanity,  and  the 
mercy  of  nature.  We  will,  therefore,  ever  pray  for 
them  that  God  will  have  mercy  on  them,  and  deliver 
them  from  their  blindness  and  from  the  snares  of  the 
devil.  And  may  the  punishments  which  God  sends 
on  them  in  this  life,  be  so  blessed  to  their  good  that 
they  may  be  spared  from  everlasting  punishment,  that 
their  souls  may  be  saved.  And  now,  O  Lord,  hear 
us  when  we  pray  for  them  in  the  words  of  our 
Saviour,  'Our  Fr.:her,  who  art  in  heaven,'  etc." 

The  names  in  the  record  have  been  suppressed  in 
this  transcript,  yet  it  is  due  to  the  truth  of  history  to 
furnish  that  of  the  leader  in  sin.  His  name  is  on  the 
record  as  George  Orth.  A  few  words  will  suffice  to 
show  his  previous  and  subsequent  history.  He  was  a 
school-master  at    Mahone    Bay,  previous  to  his  ex- 


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374 


ACAOIE    ANH   THE    ACAniANS. 


communication.  After  btMng  excommunicated,  he 
began  to  preach.  Des  Brisay  say.s  (p.  53),  "  The 
Methodist  church  at  Lunenburg  was  built  in  1813. 
Rev.  George  Orth,  who  preached  in  German,  was  tlie 
first  settled  minister.  He  built  the  mission  house 
with  his  own  means,  and,  assisted  by  others,  secured 
the  erection  of  the  church."  Whether  he  assumed 
the  title  of  "  Reverend"  or  had  it  bestowed  upon  him 
by  some  one  equally  worthy,  we  have  no  means  of 
knowing.  He  is  a  character  still  well  remembered  by 
the  older  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity.  He  is  described 
as  a  "  burly,  bushy-headed  man,  with  a  powerful  voice, 
and  the  manners  of  a  bear."  He  walked  all  over  the 
country,  organizing  prayer-meetings  and  getting  up 
revivals;  and,  finally,  having  been  taken  in  adultery 
with  one  of  the  sisters,  eloped  with  his  servant-girl  to 
the  United  States,  leaving  his  wife  to  die  of  a  broken 
heart.  A  pretty  founder  of  a  church,  indeed!  A  pity 
it  is  he  wasn't  hung  first!  Yet  fools  are  always  to  be 
found  to  follow  the  leadership  of  such  scoundrels,  and 
they  are  not  all  dead  yet. 

Seeing  the  need  of  placing  in  the  hands  of  the 
people  greater  facilities  for  the  study  of  pure  doctrine 
— since  now  the  population  had  far  outgrown  the  few 
books  brought  from  the  old  country,  and  the  supply 
of  reading  matter  being  far  below  the  need — the  Rev. 


TEMME,  THE   THIRD    MINISTER. 


375 


Mr.  Temme  at  once  set  about  the  preparation  of  the 
two  books  which  remain  as  his  best  memento.  They 
are  both  in  the  German  language.  The  one  is  en- 
titled— "  Evangelisch-Luthcrische  Kirchcn-  Agcmie,  oder 
Formulare  und  Gcbcte,  zur  Taufe,  Trauung,  Confirma- 
tion^ Administration  des  heiiigvn  Abendmals  ;  nvbst  den 
allgemeinen  Kirchen-Gebetcn  an  Sonn-uud  Bustagen,  in 
der  Lutherischen  Kirche,  zu  Luncburg,  in  Nova  Sco- 
tiar  "  Philadelphia,  Gedruckt  bey  G.  und  D.  Bill- 
meyer^  1816!'  The  title  is  explanation  in  full  of  the 
book,  which  was  circulated  wivdely  among  the  people 
of  the  congregation. 

The  other  work  is  Dr.  Martin  Luther's  Catechism, 
explained  with  Scriputre  texts.  Published  in  Philadel- 
phia, 1 8 16.  It  has  a  double  title-page,  the  first  one 
bearing  the  name  of  the  writer  :  "  Conrad  Ferdinand 
Temme^  Prof,  und  Pastor  zn  Lunebiirg,  in  Nova 
Seotia,  nnd  wirklichen  Mitgiiede  der  Soeietat  in  Eng- 
landy  What  society  is  referred  to  in  his  title  is  not 
known,  unless  it  be  the  **  Society  for  the  Propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts."  This  work  is  dedi- 
cated to  "  The  Theological  Faculty  of  the  Academy  of 
Helmstadt  in  the  Dukedom  of  Brunswick  in  Ger- 
many." 

The  following  favorable  notice  of  this  work  appears 
at  the  close:   "Under  the  title  'Dr.  Martin  Luther's 


fi 


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ACADIE    AND    THE.   ACADIANS. 


Catechism  explained  and  proven  by  the  best  Scripture 
texts — for  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Christians  in 
British  North  America,  by  C.  F.  Temme,  Prof,  and 
Pastor  at  Lunenburg  N.  S.,'  a  text-book  of  Christian 
religion  was  sent  us  in  MSS.  with  a  request  for  our 
opinion.  With  great  pleasure  we  notice  throughout 
this  work,  that  in  the  newly-opened  countries  of  the 
world,  through  the  guidance  of  Divine  Providence,  the 
true  Christian  religion  is  beginning  to  dawn  even  more 
clearly  than  in  some  of  the  old  countries  of  P^urope. 
The  author,  who  is  favorably  known  to  us  through  ar- 
ticles contributed  to  German  literature,  remains  faith- 
ful to  the  title  of  his  book,  in  that  he  keeps  close  to 
the  doctrines  of  Scripture  as  set  forth  in  I  uther's 
Catechism:  wherefore  this  can  be  with  good  right 
called  a  "  Lutheran  Catechism."  This  notice  is  ex- 
tracted from  the  "Hamburg  Correspondent,"  and  is 
signed  *'  G r,  Fr n,  D r." 

"L n,  Sept.  14,  1814." 

This  little  manual  of  220  pages  was  circulated  ex- 
tensively, and  being  made  the  text-book  in  the  par- 
ochial school,  as  well  as  in  the  classes  preparing  for 
confirmation,  no  doubt  had  much  to  do  in  the  great 
work  of  indoctrinating  the  people.  Rev.  Temme  is 
yet  spoken  of  by  his  catechumens  as  a  strict  disci- 
plinarian and  a  teacher  who  strenuously  insisted  on  a 


TEMME,  THE    THIRD    MINISTER. 


377 


careful  preparation  on  the  part  of  all  his  pupils. 
Weil  it  is  for  the  \'outh  of  any  congregation, 
when  they  are  thus  taught  the  great  duty  of  being 
faithful  to  their  own  souls  in  learning  rightly  to  under- 
stand the  saving  truth  of  the  Word  of  God.  In  this 
blessed  work,  no  book  outside  of  the  Bible  itself  is 
more  useful  than  the  Catechism  of  Luther.  Let  it  be 
honored  and  studied  as  it  richly  deserves.  Its  doc- 
trines are  precious  and  saving  to  the  soul.  So 
thought  this  worthy  pastor  in  preparing  this  edition 
of  the  book  for  his  people,  and  God's  blessing  was 
with  him  in  the  good  work. 

He  was  a  faithful  and  painstaking  minister,  com- 
manding the  affection  of  his  parishoniers  and  the  re- 
spect of  all  who  knew  him.  Of  all  his  journeyings 
and  trials,  his  labors  and  devotion,  slight  record  has 
been  kept.  That  he  had  adventures  which  would  be 
well  worth  relating  there  is  little  doubt.  Only  one  of 
these  has  come  to  our  knowledge.  It  was  on  this 
wise.  The  Reverend  gentleman  upon  one  occasion 
endeavored  to  cross  Mahone  Bay  at  a  point  near  the 
Island  known  as  Hobson's  Nose.  He  was  driving  on 
the  ice  in  one  of  the  covered  two  wheeled  gigs  or 
sulkies,  which  at  that  time  had  just  begun  to  come 
into  use.  The  wind  freshened  and  began  to  blow  a 
gale  from  the  west,  which  caught  his  craft,  drove  it 


U» 


3/- 8 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


.1! 


out  of  its  course  in  spite  of  all  he  could  do,  and  was 
hurrying  horse,  gig,  and  man  awry  toward  the  open 
ocean.  The  perilous  position  of  the  Reverend  Doctor, 
then  far  advanced  in  years,  was  seen  by  the  people 
from  both  shores.  Fleet  skaters  made  all  possible 
haste,  came  to  his  aid,  and  rescued  him  from  the  cer- 
tain death  and  watery  grave  to  which  he  was  being 
carried. 

Not  much  remains  to  be  added.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Temme  died  on  the  ninth  of  January  1832,*  in  the 
seventieth  year  of  his  age,  having  filled  with  an 
honorable  record  the  allotted  three  score  years  and 
ten ;  of  which  twenty-four  were  spent  in  the  service  of 
the  Church  at  Lunenburg.  In  that  time,  as  the  re- 
cord shows,  he  officiated  at  the  baptism  of  nearly 
thirteen  hundred  (1291)  children,  instructed  and  con- 
firmed over  eight  hundred  (816)  youth,  united  in 
marriage  three  hundred  and  eighty  couples,  and  com- 
mitted four  hundred  and  eleven  bodies  to  the  tomb. 

His  widow,  who  was  by  many  years  his  junior,  for 
a  long  period,  with  their  two  daughters,  survived  him. 
The  place  of  his  burial,  in  the  upper  cemetery  at 
Lunenburg,  was  marked,  in  1880,  by  an  appropriate 
monument.     It  was  erected  by  the  Nova  Scotia  Con- 


Church  Record,  Vol.  iv.  p.  8. 


lii  i! 


TEMME,  THE   THIRD    MINISTER. 


379 


ference  of  the  Pittsburgh  Synod,  and  consists  ot  a 
massive  stone  of  native  granite,  bearing  on  its  front  a 
polished  shield  with  the  inscription : 


-  I 

1 


ZIT  MBMOKZilM. 


!h 


TH«  H«v.  Pardinazid  Coxurad  T« 


For  Nearly  Twenty-flve  Years 
Pastor  of  Zion's  Ev.  Lutheran  Charch. 


Natus  1703,  Obit  1832. 


Mequieacit  in  paet. 


u^ 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


COSSMANN,  THE  FOURTH  MINISTER. 

A  FTER  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Temme,  the 
-^*'  church  at  Lunenburg  was  without  a  pastor  until 
the  seventeenth  of  January,  1835,  when  the  Rev. 
Charles  Ernst  Cossmann,  arrived  from  Halle.  He 
entered  at  once  upon  his  duties,  preaching  his  first  ser- 
mon on  the  Sunday  iii.  p.  Epiph.,  from  the  text  Rom. 
xiii.  8.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival  there  was  but  one 
church  edifice  in  his  parish  and  to  it  all  the  church 
members  came,  on  foot  or  in  boats,  from  all  the  out- 
lying districts  within  a  radius  of  twenty  miles.  But 
Orth,  who  had  been  excommunicated  in  18 12,  had  be- 
gun operations  already  in  181 3,  as  a  Methodist 
preacher,  and  was  leading  the  people  astray.  In  order 
to  protect  the  Lutheran  fold  it  soon  became  evident 
that  the  Lutheran  pastor  must  go  to  all  its  boundaries, 
which  accordingly  he  did.  But  as  he  went  among  the 
people  the  work  grew.  With  God's  blessing  on  his 
labors,  he  now  has  the  joy  to  see,  instead  of  one  soli- 
tary church  and  congregation,  a  whole   Conference, 

(380) 


•1 


COSSMANN,  TllK    FuUKTU    MINISTER. 


381 


if 


,;^ 


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382 


ACADIK    ANF>   TflE    ACADIANS. 


h 


■! 


Illll  It 


with  six  pastors,  more  tlian  a  score  of  churches,  and 
thousands  of  church  members,  in  its  bounds. 

But  all  this  increase  has  not  been  effected  without 
struggles,  tears  and  prayers.  And  in  order  that  those 
who  read  may  know  something  of  the  man  who,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  has  b^en  the  chosen  instrument  for 
effectii.g  the  principal  part  of  this  work,  I  shall  intro- 
duce the  venerable  Dr.  Cossmann,  the  honored  servant 
of  God,  who.se  praise  is  in  all  the  churches,  and  allow 
him  to  speak  for  himself.  In  further  explanation,  I 
would  state  that  it  was  only  after  much  urging  on  the 
part  of  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  that  the  subjoined 
autobiography  was  written  and  read  before  the  Nova 
Scotia  Conference,  in  whose  archives  it  was  filed. 

Nobody  who  has  the  pleasure  of  being  acquainted 
with  Father  Cossmann  will  regret  having  his  autobio- 
graphy in  his  own  language.  To  the  thousands  who 
know  him  personally  it  would  be  a  decided  loss  to 
have  another  pen  thru.st  into  it.  But  many  who  may 
read  it  may  not  appreciate  the  unconscious  charm  of 
his  manner  and  may  be  disposed  to  criticise  his  diction. 
To  such  readers  I  commend  it  with  the  explanation 
that  Dr.  Cossmann  is  a  German  of  the  Germans,  born, 
brought  up  and  educated  in  Germany — and  highly 
educated  too;  a  pupil  of  Gesenius,  a  thorough  Hebraist, 
having  had  the  honor  to  labor  together  with  his  great 


:       Mil 


r 


COSSMANN,  THr.    FOUKTII    MINISTKR. 


383 


1 


preceptor  in  the  preparation  of  the  Hebrew  Grammar 
which  bears  his  name,  and  whicli  has  kept  its  place  at 
the  head  of  tlie  first  rank  in  its  department  even  until 
now;  but  still  more  a  German  bv  reason  of  his  educa- 
tion.  He  preached  exclusively  in  the  German  lan- 
guage until,  for  Christ's  sake  and  the  Gospel's,  he  ex- 
posed himself  to  the  sneers  of  godless  fools,  did  the 
best  he  could,  sacrificed  his  natural  and  almost  en- 
forced preference  for  the  German  mother-tongue,  and 
in  his  seventieth  year  began  to  preach  in  the  English 
language.  His  first  English  sermon  was  delivered 
with  fear  and  trembling  on  the  occasion  of  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  new  church  at  Ellershouse,  N.  S.,  1876. 
Give  Father  Cossmann  the  honor  he  deserves.  Any 
man  who  has  made  such  sacrifices  and  has  had  such 
trouble  with  the  language  as  he,  who  in  so  great 
measure  has  overcome  its  difficulties  and  who  has  a 
life  like  his  behind  him,  needs  no  apology  for  his  Ger- 
man idioms;  but  if  after  this  explanation  any  person.? 
wish  to  laugh  at  them,  no  doubt  they  have  the  privi- 
lege. He  received  the  honorary  title  Doctor  Divinitatis, 
from  Thiel  College,  1882. 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  CARL  ERNST  COSSMANN. 

Iti  the  Name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost/  Amen. 

According   to  the   wish  of  my  English    Lutheran 


it 


( 


4. 


« 


i 


I.' 


384 


ACADIE    AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


brethren  in  ministcrio,  the  Revs.  D.  Luther  Roth,  J. 
A.  Scheffer  and  A.  L.  Yount,  I,  Charles  E.  Cossmann, 
German  Missionary  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Pittsburgh  Synod,  write  down  the  following  autobiog- 
raphia. 

My  father  was  John  Ernst  Cossmann,  born  on  the 
3rd  of  August,  1765,  and  my  mother  Maria  Elizabetli 
Richter.  In  the  time  of  my  birth,  March  ist,  1806,  he 
was  Cantor  in  Sachsenberg  in  Thiiringen,  but  on  the 
24th  June,  1808,  he  was  removed  by  the  Government 
to  Gorsleben,  where  his  salary  was  a  better  one.  My 
mother  was  not  alone  an  excellent  housekeeper,  but 
also  a  Christian  woman,  who  endeavored  to  lead  her 
then  six  living  children  through  Christ  to  the 
Heavenly  Father  and  to  implant  in  our  hearts,  very 
early,  love  toward  our  Saviour  and  reverence  for  all 
spiritual  gifts  from  above.  Every  Sunday  I  walked  at 
her  hand  to  the  church,  and  so  my  dear  mother  laid  the 
ground  to  my  resolution  as  a  little  boy  that  I  would 
be  a  pastor  and  nothing  else.  I  recollect  plainly 
that  one  of  our  neighbors,  who  sometimes  visited  my 
parents,  had  his  joke  with  me  in  a  time  when  I  could 
not  speak  plainly,  asking  me:  "Charlie,  what  will 
you  be  ?  "  My  answer  was  always  :  "  Ein  Pfarrer^' 
but  to  tease  me,  the  then  young  boy,  he  said  "  Ein 
Narre^'  which  misunderstanding  vexed  me  very 
much. 


Cr)S>MANN,  tHK    FOURTH    MINISTRR. 


38^ 


1 


This,  my  j^oocl  mother,  was  called  home  to  heaven 
from  God  on  the  4th  November,  181 1,  and  when  my 
oldest  sister  was  married  18 1 2  my  father  had  to  look 
out  for  another  mother  for  his  young  children.  My 
step-mother  Susannah  Catherine  Volger  was  a  very 
kind  woman,  making  not  the  least  difference  between 
us  and  her  own  children. 

The  education  of  children  is,  in  Germany,  more 
strict  than  in  America.  I  recollect  that  I  was  not  at 
home  at  dinner  time  and  when  I  came  home  after  din- 
ner my  father  asked  me,  "Charlie,  where  were  you?" 
My  answer  was:  "  I  played,"  and  he  always  said:  "and 
we  ate,  and  you  can  have  nothing  until  4  o'clock,"  the 
time  when  we  got  always  a  piece  of  butter  bread. 
But  that  was  too  much  for  my  kind  step-mother. 
Commonly  she  told  me  secretly:  "Charlie,  go  out  in 
the  kitchen;  I  will  give  you  something  to  eat,  but  let 
not  father  find  it  out." 

From  the  time  that  I  had  my  right  mother,  I  can 

recollect  only  first  that  T  walked  at  her  hand  to  church, 

proud  of  my  Sunday's  dress;  second,  that  I  disliked 

to  be  washed  and  that  it  was  told  me  the  cat  made  me 

dirty  (probably  that  I  had  played  with  the  cat),  and 

that  I  threw  our  cat  out  of  the  window  high  on  the 

gable  of  our  two-story  house,  to  kill  her,  in  order  not 

to  be  washed  so  often ;  and  third,  that  I  wept  with  the 
35 


f- 


V 
^ 


.•I 


it 


■i 


t: 


^r 


m , 


386 


ACAOlr;  AND  Tiir.   acadtans. 


others  when  my  dear  mother  was  buried,  but  I  was 
pacified  in  the  following  manner: 

The  ceremonies  of  funerals  are  different  in  the  vil- 
lages in  Germany  from  those  in  America.  The  bell  is 
rung,  the  people  gather  together  as  friends  of  the  de- 
ceased, and  also  the  minister,  the  schoolmaster  and 
all  the  school-boys.  Before  the  procession  starts  a 
man  with  a  plate-full  of  cents  goes  along  the  rows  of 
school-boys,  and  distributes  them  to  the  boys;  and 
when  the  cents  were  given  to  the  school-boys  by  the 
funeral  of  my  dear  mother,  I  recollect  that  I  would  go, 
too,  in  the  row  of  the  boys  to  receive  a  couple  of  cents; 
but  my  father  gave  me  a  couple  of  cents  and  I  was 
satisfied,  going  on  my  father's  hand  to  the  burying- 
ground,  where  I  wept  with  them  that  wept. 

When  the  cents  to  the  school-boys  are  distributed, 
the  cantor,  z.  e.,  schoolmaster  for  the  boys,  gives  out 
the  number  of  a  hymn,  full  of  consolation,  and  now 
they  start  singing  from  the  house  of  mourning  to  the 
open  grave  in  the  following  order :  ahead  goes  a 
grown-up  school-boy  with  a  crucifix,  on  a  narrow 
block  of  pine  board,  about  six  or  eight  feet  high  ;  the 
next  are  the  smaller  school-boys,  always  two  and  two 
in  the  row,  the  larger  boys  following  according  to 
their  classes  in  school,  each  with  a  hymn-book ;  then 
come  the  minister  and  cantor.     After  them  follows 


,i.:  :,,« 


Si!-! I   !| 
11 


COSSMAXN,  THE    FOURTH    MINISTER. 


387 


the  coffin,  and  after  that  the  relatives  and  friends  of 
the  deceased.  There  is  sometimes  a  funeral  service  in 
the  church,  and  sometimes  the  minister  has  only  pray- 
ers on  the  grave. 

Easter  181 8,  then  twelve  years  old,  brought  me  my 
father  to  the  Latin  School  in  Frankenhausen,  where 
already  my  oldest  and  second  oldest  brothers  were; 
my  third  brother  was  at  that  time  already  at  the  Latin 
School  in  Halle  a.  d.  G.,  and  I  was  pleased  to  leave 
home,  because  I  liked  to  study  ;  and  there  was  an- 
other reason  for  which  I  liked  to  leave  home. 

The  people  of  our  village  were  at  my  boyhood  full 
of  superstition,  and  in  the  long  winter  evenings  they 
amused  themselves  by  relating  ghost  stories.  We 
had  always  a  servant-girl  in  our  family,  and  to  any 
new  servant  my  father  gave  the  strict  order  that  she 
never  should  tell  us  children  a  ghost  story,  and 
nitimur  in  vetitum,  nothing  did  we  children  like  bet- 
ter than  such  a  tremendous  ghost  story.  The  only 
chance  to  hear  such  a  story  from  our  servant-girl,  was 
when  both  my  parents  spent  now  and  then  an  evening 
with  their  friends,  and  we  children  were  an  evening 
alone  with  the  servant-girl.  As  soon  as  our  parents 
were  gone,  we  commenced  to  coax  the  girl  to  tell  us 
such  an  interesting  ghost  story,  but  she  commonly  re- 
fused, and  only  when  we  two  boys  promised  not  to 


♦  -.  ■ 


't 


■ '  i 
■  1 

I 

.■  j; 


;| 


•  I! 


1 


X 


•  t~ 


i  > 


388 


ACADIE    AND   TUP:    ACAPIAN'S. 


II 


n 


'l'''[^'|f     t 


tell  father  anything  about  it,  and  to  bring  from  the 
woodhouse  fire-wood  in  the  kitchen  for  a  certain 
length  and  the  like,  then  her  heart  was  softened,  and 
she  told  us  ghost  stories  to  our  hearts'  delight. 

There  was  a  ruin  of  a  church  on  the  south  end  of 
our  village,  which  church  was  destroyed  in  the  Thirt}' 
Years'  War,  and  nothing  was  left  there  any  more  ot  it 
but  one  side  and  the  two  ends  of  the  walls,  serving  as 
a  part  of  a  fence  of  a  large  orchard.  The  girl  told  us 
that  where  the  altar  stood  could  be  seen  a  ghost 
every  night  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock,  and 
pictured  the  same  from  top  to  toe  so  vividly  that  the 
ghost  stood  plain  before  us;  but  still  the  mere  picture 
of  the  ghost  did  not  satisfy  us  boys;  we  would  see 
him  face  to  face. 

As  already  mentioned,  the  education  of  children  is 
more  strict  in  Germany  than  this  side  of  the  ocean. 
It  was  an  unchangeable  rule  in  our  house  exact  at 
nine  o'clock  we  must  be  at  home  when  it  was  once  al- 
lowed to  spend  an  evening  with  another  playfellow ; 
and  so  we  had  no  chance  whatever  to  see  that  ghost 
at  the  ruins  of  the  St.  John's  church  between  eleven 
and  twelve  o'clock.  Ardently  wishing  to  see  that 
ghost,  we  both  boys  came  to  the  conclusion  to  make 
use  of  the  following  trick:  At  nine  o'clock,  our  family 
prayer  hour,  we  bade  the  parents  good- night.     Then 


lifi^  !i 


COSSMAXN,  THE   FOURTH    MINISTER. 


389 


we  went  as  usually  once  more  in  the  yard,  but  instead 
of  returning  in  the  house,  we  slammed  the  house-door 
very  loud  from  outside,  and  instead  of  going  to  bed 
we  went  in  the  barn  on  the  hay,  to  wait  there  till 
eleven  o'clock,  and  then  go  and  see  that  ghost  in  the 
St.  John's  ruins.  In  the  barn  we  were  about  one  hour, 
and  at  once  we  heard  the  house-door  opened,  and  my 
father  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice ;  "  Christian  and 
Carl!"  and  I  never  can  forget  how  terrified  we  were 
hearing  our  father  call  us,  because  we  were  sure  and 
certain  for  such  a  trick  we  would  be  punished  heavily. 
As  poor  sinners  we  answered,  crawled  at  the  house- 
door,  where  our  father  questioned  us:  "Where  were 
you?"  We  answered,  "  In  the  barn."  "What  could 
you  do  there?"  "We  would  wait  there  till  eleven 
o'clock  and  then  we  would  go  and  see  the  ghost  in  the 
St.  John's  ruin."  If  my  father  smiled  about  our 
trembling  confession,  we  could  not  see  in  the  dark 
night,  but  the  punishment  we  received  was  very  leni- 
ent. He  struck  my  older  brother  light  on  the  head 
and  then  me  too  by  passing  the  door,  and  said:  "Go 
to  bed,  you  stupid  boys ! "  We  were  extremely  glad 
that  we  were  not  punished  severely.  My  brother  was 
sent  to  Halle  at  the  Latin  School  when  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  and  that  happened  before  he  was  sent  to 
Halle,  so  therefore  before  his  twelfth  year,  and  before 
I  was  nine  years  old. 


1 

...  i 

1' 

1 

[ 

; 

} 

♦  . 

I 


V 
■  I 


V 


I 


'li; 


i 


m. 


xr 


390 


ACADIE    AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


I  stated  already  that  I  liked  to  leave  home  because 
I  loved  my  books  and  besides  that  I  hoped  lo  get 
more  liberty,  so  that  I  could  have  a  chance  to  sec  a 
ghost  if  any  could  be  seen;  what  the  people  in  our  vill- 
age affirmed  and  my  father  denied.  I  would  find  out 
the  truth. 

Frankenhausen  was  two-and-a-half-hour's  walk  from 
Gorsleben,  and  almost  every  fortnight  I  w^nt  to  see 
my  parents,  and  commonly  I  traveled  the  road  in  the 
night  to  see  once  a  ghost,  but  never  saw  one,  because 
it  was  my  strict  rule,  vhen  I  thought  to  see  a  thing 
extraordinary,  I  went  close  to  the  spot  and  examined 
the  thing,  and  found  always  that  it  was  nothing  extra- 
ordinary. 

But  how  strict  a  person  should  be  in  examining 
such  things  which  seem  to  be  extraordinary,  shows 
the  following  fact.  From  Gorsleben  I  had  to  go  to 
Sachsenberg,  (one  half  hour),  then  to  Oldisleben,  (one 
half  hour),  Seehausen,  (one  hour),  Frankenhausen, 
(one  half  hour).  The  village  Oldisleben  is  situated  in 
a  valley  close  to  a  steep  hill.  On  the  side  of  this  hill 
above  the  village  is  a  small  spot  of  flat  land  from 
which  we  have  the  finest  view  over  a  broad  and 
several  miles  long  valley,  with  three  towns  and  a  great 
many  villages.  A  beautiful  stream  flows  quietly 
through  the  well  cultivated  fields  and  rich  meadows, 


ll::; 


CObSMANN,  THE   FOURTH    MINISTER. 


391 


If 


This  valley  is  called  "the  golden  Aue."  This  beauti- 
ful spot  was  in  olden  times  selected  to  build  a  nunnery, 
of  which  only  ruins  remained.  There  was  a  narrow 
foot-path  on  the  one  side  up  the  hill,  passing  close  to 
the  ruin,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  hill  down  in  the 
valley.  Near  the  ruins  the  hill  went  still  higher  up,  a 
very  rocky  place,  overgrown  with  trees  and  bushes 
here  and  there,  and  the  story  was  that  we  could  hear 
in  the  ruins  and  in  the  rising  hill  above  the  ruins  the 
crying  of  babies  killed  by  the  nuns,  and  to  hear  babies  I 
commonly  left  Gorsleben  for  Frankenhausen,  and  vice 
versa,  in  such  an  hour  that  I  reached  the  haunted 
spot  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  at  night. 

I  had  passed  this,  indeed,  very  dreary  spot  many 
times  without  hearing  the  cry  of  babies :  but  once, 
middle  in  the  night,  I  heard  on  the  very  spot  a 
baby  cry  bitterly,  and,  I  must  confess,  I  trembled. 
Cold  shivering  ran  through  my  back,  I  took  it  for 
granted  that  it  was  a  baby's  cry  which  was  murdered 
by  the  nuns,  and  I  intended  to  go  on  my  way  toward 
home.  But  at  once  I  made  up  my  mind  to  investigate 
and  although  trembling  all  over,  I  left  my  foot-path 
and  searched  the  ghost  in  the  bushes  and  rocks.  The 
deeper  I  came  in  the  woods,  the  plainer  I  heard  the 
cry  of  the  baby,  and  at  once,  turning  round  a  bush 
Stood  a  large  woman  before  me  with  a  child  in  her 


'I' 


h 


'I 

1 


H- 


■1 

■  i 


4 
% 


;,  i. 


392 


ACAIMM    AM)   THE   ACADIANS. 


arms,  which  cried  su  bitterly.  1  was  struck  and 
trembHng  all  over.  I  asked  her:  "Who  are  you?" 
and  with  a  trembling  voice  she  answered :  "  A  woman 
from  Oldisleben."  When  1  found  this  woman  still 
more  afraid  than  1  was,  my  courage  returned  at  once, 
and  the  result  of  a  close  examination  was  that  the 
woman  had  paid  a  visit  to  her  relatives  in  Giinzerode, 
a  distance  of  about  two  hours  walk,  and  in  returning 
home  she  had  missed  the  narrow  footpath  in  the 
woods,  and  did  not  know  where  she  was.  I  showed 
the  poor  woman  the  way  to  her  near  home.  I  made 
her  march  before  me  because  to  make  it  sure  that  this 
woman  was  not  the  ghost  of  a  nun  with  her  murdered 
baby.  I  followed  her  to  her  house,  she  knocked  at 
the  door,  it  was  opened,  and  woman  and  baby  went 
in.  I  am  sure  and  certain  that  I  would  have  believed 
and  perhaps  would  still  believe,  with  the  supersti- 
tious people  of  "  the  golden  Aue,"  that  I  heard  the 
cry  of  a  baby  murdered  by  nuns  near  the  ruins  of 
the  nunnery,  if  I  went  off  my  way  home  without  a 
close  examination.  So  even  in  this  case  nothing 
supernatural. 

Only  one  fact  I  never  could  understand,  and  since  I 
speak  of  such  things  I  may  relate  it. 

Frankcnhausen  lies  on  a  rising  hill  called,  since  the 
fifteenth    of  May,    1525,   "the    battle    hill,"    because 


IfPif? 


i   I   ;  ;     t 


i 


C(1SSMA.N.\,    IHI'.    l-Ol-KTM     Ml  MS  IKK. 


393 


Thomas  Miinzcr  and  his  adliercnts  were  slain  there. 
At  five  o'clock  every  Sunday  morning  during  the 
summer  months,  we  scholars  of  the  Latin  school  had 
to  make  our  appearance  at  divine  service  or  had  to 
pay  a  certain  sum  of  money  as  punishment  for  miss- 
ing the  service.  Not  to  over-sleep  myself,  I  was 
dressed  often  already  at  four  o'clock  for  church. 
Then  I  took  commonly  a  walk  hearing  the  delightful 
nightingales.  Once  I  took  my  walk  up  the  hill  out- 
side the  wall  of  the  town,  and  when  I  came  almost  to 
the  top  of  the  hill  I  saw  in  one  of  the  grottos  or  caves, 
in  a  sitting  position,  a  beautifully  dressed  girl,  accord- 
ing to  appearance  about  twenty  years  old,  without 
bonnet  or  cap,  her  fair  hair  made  smooth,  a  fine  white 
neck  collar,  black  velvet  jacket  tight  and  neat-fitting, 
and  a  bright  colored  skirt  of  fine  material  She 
looked  friendly  in  my  face,  but  I  was  so  struck  to  find 
in  such  early  morning  hour,  so  unexpected,  such  a 
beautiful  girl  in  that  grotto,  that  I  bashfully  passed  by 
without  speaking  one  word  to  the  girl ;  but  I  was  and 
am  still  sure  that  she  belonged  not  to  Frankenhausen. 
In  that  time  the  lower  classes  did  wear  a  quite  differ- 
ent dress  than  the  richer  class  of  people.  I  lived  in 
that  time  at  least  six  years  in  that  town,  which  is  not 
large,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  every  face  of  the 
richer  class  of  people,  and  therefore,  I  can  say  for  cer- 


i- 


■ 

1 1 


f 


394 


ACADIE   AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


' 


tain  that  this  young  lady  was  not  an  inhabitant  of  the 
town.  Nor  could  she  come  from  another  place,  be- 
cause she  had  no  bonnet  or  cap  in  the  cave,  which  was 
small,  and  nothing  else  in  it  besides  her  person.  Be- 
sides was  the  place  so  dreary  and  the  road  (if  we 
could  call  it  a  road)  so  rough  that  I  had  never  seen 
walk  up  the  hill  a  female. 

Perhaps  I  would  have  forgotten  the  whole  affair  if 
not  for  one  event.  In  the  later  years  of  my  being  at 
the  University  of  Halle,  there  was  a  spiritualist  in  the 
kingdom  of  Wiirtemburg,  whose  statements  and  works 
in  his  books  were  the  common  talk  of  whole  Germany. 
There  were  some  student  friends  one  day  in  my  room 
and  among  them  a  young  man  from  Frankenhausen, 
his  birth-place,  and  the  matter  of  all  the  newpapers  in 
that  time  was  touched  upon,  and  we  heard  the  different 
opinions  about  spiritualism.  Mansfeld,  the  young 
man  born  in  Frankenhausen,  declared  that  he  was  not 
a  believer  in  such  supernatural  affairs,  "  but,"  he  added, 
"  one  thing  happened  to  me,  what  I  cannot  solve." 
And  now  he  told  us  his  story,  that  he  had  seen  the 
same  young  lady,  in  the  same  cave,  at  the  same  hour 
in  the  morning  before  divine  service,  in  the  same  sit- 
ting position  and  in  exactly  the  same  dress  from  head 
to  foot,  only  about  six  years  later  than  I  had  seen  her. 
All  my  friends  were  astonished  when  I  told  that  I  had 


COSSMANN,  THE   FOURTH    MINISTER. 


395 


seen  the  same  girl,  in  the  same  dress,  etc.,  etc.,  only- 
six  years  earlier.  Mansfeld,  born  and  i^rown  up  in 
Frankenhausen,  and  therefore  well  acquainted  with  all 
the  inhabitants,  affirmed  as  I  do,  that  this  young  lady 
did  not  belong  to  Frankenhausen.  A  pity  it  was  that 
he  did  lose  the  pre*  nee  of  mind  like  myself,  and  that 
he  passed  the  cave  without  speaking  one  word  to  the 
young  lady.  1  have  the  full  belief  that  even  that 
riddle  will  be  .solved  in  the  other  world. 

Frankenhausen  belongs  to  the  Duke  of  Rudolstadt, 
and  not  to  Prussia,  and  nothing  was  done  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  gymnasium.  The  teachers  them- 
selves were  not  able  to  speak  the  Latin  language,  or 
to  write  Greek,  and  the  teacher  of  the  Hebrew  lan- 
guage was  so  little  acquainted  with  it  that  he  tried  to 
show  us  a  visible  difference  between  Kametz  and 
Kametz-chatuph.  But  still  I  was  as  far  advanced  in 
Latin  and  Greek  and  all  the  other  branches  of  knowl- 
edge, as  any  of  the  other  young  men  who  left  the  col- 
lege for  the  University.  I  received  my  testimonwm 
maturitatis  and  went  to  Halle  as  student.  But  here 
my  eyes  were  opened  soon.  I  found  that  my  knowl- 
edge of  old  languages  was  so  imperfect,  that  I  would 
not  profit  much  by  hearing  the  professors.  Always 
hating  half  work,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  to  frequent 
a  Prussian  gymnasium,  and  I  chose  Gorlitz,  in  Silesia, 


1 


} 


\ 


\  i' 


%  I. 


rV: 


ill 


396 


ACATiir.    AND    THK    ACA1>1AN?. 


,ti 


■\h 


the  best  in  its  renown,  flourishing  under  the  Director 
Prof.  Dr.  Anton ;  and  well  prepared  went  I  with  the 
best  certificate  to  the  University  again,  Easter,  1829, 
which  university  flourished  under  Gesenius  and  Tho- 
luck.  I  received  from  the  professors  during  the  four 
years  at  the  university  in  consequence  of  my  good 
certificate  from  Gorlitz,  a  stipendium  yearly  of  ^100, 
and  ^20  from  the  government. 

The  custom  of  young  theologians  in  Germany  is, 
that  after  they  have  finished  their  course  as  students, 
they  take  a  tutorship  in  a  family,  commonly  of  noble- 
men, or  else  they  take  charge  of  a  school  until  they 
are  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  a  parish.  But 
whoever  can  do  it,  tries  to  get  a  place  at  a  school  in 
Halle,  so  that  he  remains  in  connection  with  the  uni- 
versity, and  has  still  chance  to  hear  lectures  of  the 
professors. 

I  was  fortunate  enough  to  get  such  a  place  at  the 
Real  school  in  Halle,  where  I  spent  my  happiest  time 
with  my  intimate  friends,  nine  at  the  number;  one  of 
them  was  the  late  Dr.  Pohlmann  of  New  York. 

In  that  time  came  from  the  Lunenburg  Lutheran 
congregation  a  petition  for  a  German  Lutheran  minis- 
ter, and  although  this  petition  was  so  ardently  ex- 
pressed and  hundreds  of  young  theologians  could 
have  accepted   the  call,  not  one  would  go  because 


COSSMANN,  THR    KDrRTlI    M1M>H.K. 


397 


Nova  Scotia  was  so  far,  such  a  dreary  land  and  only 
a  salary  of  ^$400  was  offered ;  less  than  a  common 
school-master  has  in  Germany.  The  Professors  trier' 
the  utmost  to  find  a  man  who  would,  for  the  Lord's 
sake,  accept  the  situation,  but  in  vain.  Since  the 
elders  of  the  Lunenburg  Lutheran  congregation,  in  a 
so  pitiful  manner,  stated  that  they  had  no  German 
preaching,  that  they  could  not  understand  the  English, 
and  that  they  were  a  flock  without  a  shepherd,  we 
persuaded  at  last  one  of  our  club,  Schlicke,  to  accept 
the  call,  because  he  had  no  parents  any  more,  no 
brother  nor  sister,  nor  any  other  relative  except  an  old 
uncle,  and  they  both  were  not  on  good  terms.  He 
objected  at  first,  but  at  last  he  declared  his  willingness 
to  go.  We  others  of  the  club  were  quite  pleased  that 
the  Lunenburg  Lutheran  congregation  should  h^ve 
soon  a  pastor.  But  at  once  Schlicke  declared  he 
could  not  go.  We  tried  the  utmost  to  persuade  him 
that  he  should  fulfil  his  promise  to  us  and  the  Prof. 
Gesenius,  but  all  in  vain :  and  only  to  make  him  cour- 
age to  accept  the  call  I  told  him  :  "Schlicke,  if  you  are 
not  willing  to  go,  I  go."  Pie  said  :  "  Well,  Cossmann, 
you  should  go.  You  will  do  good  to  the  people.  I 
would  not  be  the  man."  And  although  my  books,  etc., 
were  at  that  time  already  packed  in  chests,  and  I  was 
with  them  about  to  go  as  assistant  teacher  to  a  flour- 


it 


^ 


if 


i| 


398 


A(  ADII.    AM)     im.    ACAI^IANS. 


*1 


I* 


i'-" 


ishing  institute  of  my  oldest  brother  in  Coblenz,  the 
finest  part  of  the  Rhine,  1  considered  it  my  duty  to 
give  up  the  finest  prospects  for  the  future  at  home  and 
to  serve  my  Lutheran  brethren  in  dreary  Nova  Scotia. 
Although  by  asking  my  old  father  his  advice  in  the 
matter  he  had  answered  me :  "  If  you  think  you  can 
do  good  to  the  people,  go  in  the  Lord's  name,"  the 
parting  from  him  and  my  dear  brothers  and  sisters 
was  heart-breaking.  1  left  Germany  after  my  ordina- 
tion, which  took  place  on  the  sixteenth  of  September, 
1834,  by  the  ConsistorialratJi  Ilaasenritter,  D.  D.,  in 
Merseburg. 

Under  the  protec  "on  of  the  Lord  I  arrived  safe  in 
Lunenburg,  September  17th,  1835,  and  was  kindly 
received  by  the  whole  congregation.  My  bond  stated 
that  I  had  to  preach  every  Sunday  morning  in  our 
Lunenburg  church,  and  to  instruct  the  young  people 
for  confirmation  during  the  summer  months,  Sunday 
afternoons  ;  and  the  church  rule  added,  that  if  any  man 
wanted  me  in  the  country,  he  must  fetch  and  return 
me  in  a  convenient  wagon.  But  I  soon  found  out  that 
that  never  could  build  up  our  Lutheran  Zion,  and  I 
soon  commenced  to  preach  in  the  country;  the  far- 
living  members  of  our  Church,  not  able  to  keep  horse 
and  wagon,  should  not  be  without  the  Bread  of  Life. 
In    February,  I  administered  the    Lord's  Supper  for 


I 


y]  'i 


COSSMANN,    I  Hi:    PoLKlH    MINISTER. 


399 


the  first  time,  and  only  one  of  the  twelve  ciders  and 
fifteen  of  the  congregation  made  their  appearance  at 
the  Lord's  table ;  so  dead  I  found  our  Lutheran 
Zion ! !  1 

In  May  1837,  I  left  for  Germany  and  returned  at 
the  twelfth  December,  a.  ej.  to  Lunenburg  with  my 
beloved  wife  Caroline  Luisa  Bressel,  the  mother  of 
our  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  of 
whom  one  son  died  in  his  infancy.  My  dear  wife  de- 
parted this  life  on  the  twenty-third  August,  1 879.  Soon 
I  shall  be  united  with  her  again  and  then  forever  and 
ever.     Amen! 

After  my  return  from  Germany,  I  preached  regu- 
larly twice  every  Sunday  and  on  the  week  days 
on  such  places  as  I  could  not  reach  Sundays :  as  Mait- 
land,  Northfield,  Fr.  Weil's  now  Sebastopol,  Branch, 
New  Germany,  Cornwall,  Tancook,  Blandford,  Con- 
querall,  Feltzen-south,  Rose  Bay,  La  Have,  etc.,  etc. 
On  the  most  populated  places  I  preached  commonly 
once  a  month,  besides  the  funeral  sermons  and  the 
visiting  the  sick,  and  administering  the  Lord's  Supper 
to  many  on  their  sick  and  often  dying  beds.  I  traveled 
annually  about  four  thousand  miles  for  many  years, 
and  the  most  part  in  the  saddle.  But  I  was  sometimes 
so  fatigued  that  my  children  stood  plainly  before  my 
eyes  but  I  could  not  recollect  their  names,  and  if  I 


i  ! 


\   '' 


^ 
t 


14 


k  . 


i 


H 


400 


ACADIK   ANf)    jhh  acahians. 


l!  t 


H 


If 


ill :  ^A 


could  have  saved  my  life.  The  same  weariness  I  have 
several  times  observed  by  dying  persons ;  they  know 
their  children,  but  in  consequence  of  their  weakness 
they  cannot  recollect  their  names  any  more.  The 
most  trouble  made  me  the  present  Bridgewater  parish. 
I  had  to  pray  without  ceasing  and  very  hard  to  work. 
But  it  is  a  great  satisfaction  that  I  have  not  lost  one 
single  member  of  our  over-the-whole-country-spread- 
congregation  so  long  as  I  stood  alone.  But  I  could 
tremble  by  thinking  that  here  or  there  was  a  screw 
loose,  because  I  considered  it  always  one  of  the  great- 
est sins  a  man  can  commit  when  a  Lutheran,  having 
the  true  Word  and  the  Holy  Sacraments,  as  Christ  our 
Saviour  instituted  them,  was  fickle-minded  enough  to 
join  another  denomination. 

After  Mr.  Geo.  Weil  in  Waterloo  had  spoken  to  me 
about  an  assistant  who  could  preach  English,  I  called 
immediately  my  ciders  together,  and  the  result  of  the 
meeting  was  that  we  would  try  to  get  help  for  me.  I 
was  delighted  when  the  Rev,  W.  W.  Bowers  arrived, 
who  was  called  as  my  assistant,  and  I  told  him  that  he 
should  assist  me  and  I  would  assist  him,  and  so  we 
lived  and  worked  together  in  the  closest  harmony,  as 
Christian  brethren  always  should  do.  Rev.  Bowers 
was  loved  by  everybody,  and  our  Lutheran  Zion 
flourished  after  his  arrival   1855.     But  in  1859  ^^  ^^~ 


COSSMANN,  THE   FOURTH    MINISTER. 


401 


li 


cepted  a  call  from  the  Bridge  water  parish,  which  sepa- 
rated then  from  us.* 

Since  my  arrival  1835  until  i860,  we  Lutherans 
lived  as  a  large  family  in  undisturbed  harmony  and 
peace,  and  the  rich  blessing  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
dwelled  in  the  whole  congregation.  Our  Lutheran 
Zion  was  for  the  denominations  around  us  a  pattern 
of  Christian  love  and  unity.  But  in  April  i860  came 
the  Rev.  J.  J.  Stine,  a  man  of  the  Melanchthon  Synod, 
as  our  new  English  Lutheran  minister,  who  would 
not   answer  our    true    Lutheran   people.     He   would 

*  The  foUowiug  obituary  appeared  in  The  Lutheran  and  Mission- 
ary,  October,  1873. 

"  Bowers. — Rev.  W.  W.  Bowers  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa., 
near  Philadelphia,  April  l6lh,  1827,  and  died  in  Concord,  North  Caro- 
lina, October  17th,  1873,  aged  46  years,  6  months,  and  I  day. 

He  pursued  his  studies  at  Gettysburg  and  studied  theology  under  the 
late  Dr.  Anspach  at  Hagerstown,  Md.  In  the  autumn  of  1855,  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Lunenburg  and  Bridgewater,  Nova  Scotia.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  there  until  sometime  last  August,  when  he  resigned 
the  field  in  Nova  Scotia  and  accepted  a  call  to  Concord  X.  C.  The 
disease  from  which  he  died  was  typhoid  pneumonia.  His  remains 
were  sent  to  Wliite  Marsh,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.  The  deceased 
leaves  a  wife  and  four  children  to  mourn  his  deaili.  The  wife  and 
three  of  the  children  are  in  Nova  Scotia,  the  oldest  son  having  accom- 
panied his  father  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the  North  Carolina  Col- 
lege." His  wife  was  Louisa,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Cossmann.  K. 

26 


!r 


i 


li 


iV 


I 
I 

% 


I 


402 


ACADIE    AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


I)  ' 


force  the  congregation  to  introduce  the  Methodistical 
prayer-meetings,  and  finding  resistance  he  scanda- 
lized the  elders  and  congregation.  It  came  according 
to  his  own  wish  to  a  vote  of  the  congregation  in 
Lunenburg,  Mahone  Bay  and  Rose  Bay  churches, 
and  the  result  was  that  he  was  discharged  from  the 
congregation.  But  a  few  of  his  friends  kept  him  the 
year  out,  and  the  following  year,  holding  their  meet- 
ings in  the  temperance  hall.  After  his  departure,  his 
friends  joined  the  Methodists,  and  he  himself  was  ex- 
communicated from  the  Lutheran  Church  for  ill 
behaviour  in  the  United  States.* 

*  The  Rev.  J.  J.  Stine  took  his  theological  course  at  Princeton 
Presbyterian  Seminary.  It  was  reported,  after  his  departure  from 
Lunenburg,  that  he  had  been  arrested  for  stealing  books  from  the 
City  Library  in  Boston.  All  that  is  known  further  of  his  career  is 
contained  in  the  following  extract  from  the  Philadelphia  Times  of 
April  7th,  1886. 

*'  BREAKING  STONE  IN  A  WORKHOUSE. 

"A  man  who  claims  to  be  a  Clergyman,  but  is  a  Swindler.  Indian- 
opolis,  Ind.  April  7.  (Special.) — Among  the  prisoners  who  were 
brought  into  the  Mayor's  Court  this  morning  was  a  man  60  years  old, 
with  the  appearance  of  a  clergyman,  who  registered  at  the  Grand  Hotel 
last  night  as  Rev.  Isaac  J.  Brinton,  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  The  charge 
against  him  was  that  he  is  known  as  a  thief  and  a  felon.  In  his  valise, 
which  was  opened  by  the  police,  was  found  5 no  in  cash,  and  a  few 
theological  books,  together  with  a  hat-full  of  clippings  from  Chicago 
and  New  York  newspapers  giving  a  fragmentary  history  of  some  of  his 


COSSMANN,  THE    FOURTH    MINISTER.  4O3 

After  this  sore  affliction  we  had  to  send  for  another 
English  Lutheran  minister,  and  \\c  received  an  indi- 
vidual whom  I  will  leave  unnamed,  who,  although  in 
another  way,  finished  what  Rev.  Stine  commenced. 
Qui  vult  vitare  CJiarybdini  incidit  in  Scyllani.  Misled 
by  Rev.  Hutchinson  at  Bridgewater,  he  tried  the 
utmost  to  expel  me  from  my  dear  church,  which  was 
locked  before  me  for  a  couple  of  years.  Hutchinson's 
and  the  other  man's  aim  was  it  to  bring  the  whole 
Lutheran  congregation  under  the  Episcopal  bishop, 
and  a  bridge  was  introduced  by  them  in  the  form  of  a 
prayer-book,  most  part  of  it  extracted  from  the  Epis- 
copal Common  Prayer    Book.     The  first    step    must 


criminal  exploits,  while  others  told  of  his  connection  with  the  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  ministry,  and  his  wonderful  eloquence  as  a  lecturer. 

"Among  the  clippings  was  one  stating  that  he  had  swindled  a  bank 
of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  by  raising  a  check  from  $39  to  $3900.  He  also 
had  testimonial  letters  from  some  of  the  most  prominent  people  in  the 
country,  including  the  Rev.  David  Swing,  the  late  Gen.  George  V>. 
McClellan,  Robert  Snodgrass,  deputy  attorney  general  of  Pennsylvania, 
Congressman  Atkinson,  of  the  same  State,  and  in  fact,  from  almost 
every  quarter,  many  of  them  directed  to  President  Cleveland,  recom- 
mending his  appointment  as  consul  at  Kingston,  Can.  The  trial  de- 
veloped that  some  of  his  reverend  aliases  were  J.  J.  Stine,  Jacob  Stim- 
son,  G.  T.  Hart  and  George  Brinton.  Although  there  was  not  suflicieni 
evidence  to  convict  him  on  the  charge  of  being  a  known  thief,  he  was 
fined  ^25  and  costs,  and  sent  to  the  workhouse  for  thirty  days,  where 
he  is  now  breaking  stone  in  felon's  garb." 


i? 


Is 


^ 


404 


ACADIE  AND  THE  ACADIANS. 


naturally  be  to  remove  me,  the  chief  stumbling-block, 
from  the  church ;  and  now  began  a  time  full  of  horror 
for  our  poor  congregation.  The  whole  congregation 
was  more  a  battlefield  than  a  Christian  Church! 
After  the  church  was  locked  before  me*  a  division 
of  its  members  took  place  and  by  far  the  majority 
signed  for  me ;  but  there  was  probably  no  Lutheran 
family  in  the  Province  what  discussed  not  the  matter 
vehemently;  often  the  wife  against  the  husband,  child- 
dren  against  parents,  brothers  and  sisters  quarreling 
against  each  other. 

To  end  this  quarrel  and  fighting,  could  I  resign  with 
good  conscience?  Could  I  leave  the  over  three  hun- 
dred families  of  my  congregation,  whom  I  loved  so 
dearly,  without  a  shepherd  ?  Had  I  not  to  answer  for 
such  a  step  before  God  on  the  Judgment  Day?  The 
wolf  attacked  the  flock,  and  I  as  a  Lutheran  minister 
and  according  to  Dr.  Martin  Luther's  advice  consid- 
ered it  my  duty  to  protect  my  people,  my  friends,  my 
children  in  Christ.  If  I  had  resigned  then,  the  most 
of  my  people  would  have  rather  joined  some  of  the 
denominations,  and   Hutchinson  and  the  other  man 

*  This  was  the  new  church,  built  on  the  site  of  the  first  one  by  the 
efforts  of  Father  Cossmann  among  his  people,  in  1840  and  1 84 1,  at  an 
expense  of  ^5,000,  exclusive  of  labor  and  materials  given  and  not 
reckoned.  R. 


<!!!  < 


COSSMANN,  THE    FOURTH    MINISTER. 


405 


would  themselves  and  their  friends  have  united  with 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  Nova  Scotia  would  by  this 
time  be  without  a  Lutheran  Zion,  our  joy  and  crown. 

When  the  church  was  closed  before  me,  the  elders 
were  highly  in  my  debt.  Askin^r  the  elders  for  pay- 
ment, one  in  the  presence  of  the  other  elders  told  me 
that  I  had  to  sue  for  it;  and  thus  I  was  forced  to  sue, 
because  what  the  elders  owed  me  I  owed  other 
people.  A  congregational  meeting  was  called  by 
the  other  man,  who  stated  my  case  in  the  blackest 
manner  before  the  people,  and  I  made  an  offer  to  take 
i^200,  if  they  would  not  force  me  to  go  to  law. 

It  was  now  moved  by  Mr.  Nathaniel  Strumm, 
seconded  and  unanimously  carried,  that  the  elders 
should  sell  the  so-called  school-house,  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  would  be  taxed  for  the  remainder 
of  the  ;^200,  but  the  law  should  be  avoided;  what  is  a 
clear  proof  that  the  people  would  act  honest  towards 
me;  and,  indeed,  it  would  have  been  an  easy  matter 
to  settle  in  peace,  because  for  the  school-house  they 
received  ;^I35,  ;^5  they  received  as  a  legate  of  the 
late  Caspar  Zink  in  Blandford,  and  at  least  ;^I2  they 
had  in  hand  from  a  "bazaar,"  in  all  £1^2,  so  that  only 
JC4S  were  to  be  raised,  and  some  offered  from  £^  to 
£s  towards  payment  of  this  debt,  only  to  avoid  the 
scandal. 


406 


AC  A  [)!!■:    AND     fill:    ACA  f  >r  A  NS. 


The  elders,  misled  by  that  man,  refused  to  pay  me 


li    X 


:'Hi 


and  thus  I 


ipelled 


th( 


After  I  had 


lus  1  was  compelled  to  sue  tnem.  /liter 
deducted  £20  for  a  wagon  from  the  elders'  debt  due 
me,  which  wagon  was  presented  to  me  from  the  con- 
gregation, the  elders  owed  me  still  over  ;^400,  but 
hoping  that  ;^300  would  pay  my  debts,  I  sued  them 
only  for  that  sum  ;  and  although  clearly  stated  by  the 
Chief  Justice  after  hearing  my  witnesses,  that  every 
sixpence  was  due  to  me  and  must  be  paid,  1  settled 
and  received  only  ^200.  I  received  in  average,  not 
the  promised  ^^550  marked  down  in  my  bond,  but  a 
little  less  than  ;^500. 

Another  suit  I  had  against  the  elders  for  locking  up 
the  church  doors  before  me  and  the  majority  of  the 
Lutheran  congregation,  and  it  was  only  after  the  Chief 
Justice,  in  the  Lunenburg  Court,  declared  that  he  had 
read,  studied  and  admired  our  Church's  rules,  and 
found  that  this  church  was  built  by  Germans  and 
surely  for  Germans,  and  that  my  elders  could  claim 
the  whole  church  and  exclude  the  English  (which  we 
never  intended  to  do),  that  the  church  doors  were 
opened  for  us.  But  since  we  had  no  right  or  title  to 
the  church  or  its  property  in  the  House  of  Parliament 
in  Halifax,  and  since  my  people,  having  no  claim 
whatever  on  the  church  property,  would  nothing  pay 
to  keep  the  church  in  repairs,  and  finding  that  thus  the 


iiil 


COSSMANX,  THK    KiURTIl    MIM>ir.R. 


407 


church  would  go  to  ruin,  the  olcd  ciders  had  more 
trouble  to  give  the  church  and  church  pronerty  back 
in  the  hands  of  my  members  and  elders  than  they  had 
had  to  exclude  us  from  the  church. 

After  having  done  a  great  deal  of  mischief  to  our 
congregation,  the  other  man's  salary  could  not  be 
raised  any  more,  and  he  returned  home,  after  having 
been  the  means  of  increasing  our  church  debt  from 
;^II  to  ^500.  * 

Besides  this  was  spent  in  his  time  the  jCi^S  received 
from  the  schoolhouse,  ;^I2  from  the  "bazaar,"  5  from 
the  late  Caspar  Zink  in  Blandford,  and  the  money  for 
a  thirty  acre  lot  lying  in  Waterloo,  Bridgewater  parish. 

For  all  this  trouble  and  scandal  that  man  has  to 
answer  on  the  judgment  day  before  God.  May  God 
have  mercy  upon  him! 

After  that  man  came  Rev.   English  in  September, 

1 866,  and  left   the  congregation  already  in    March, 

1867,  because,  as  he  said  to  me,  he  was  forbidden  by 
my  opponents  to  live  on  friendly  terms  with  me. 

The  situation  as  English  Lutheran  minister  occupied 
since  April,  1868,  Rev.  Cornman  and  his  opponent,  a 
discharged  Methodist  minister.  The  friends  of  Rev. 
Cornman  sued,  the  other  brother  elders  for  introducing 
this  discharged  Methodist  minister  in  the  Lutheran 

*  (About  ^2,000.) 


tf 


4o8 


ACADIK    AND    THE    ACADIANS. 


1 


church  as  a  Lutheran  minister.  Tlie  Methodist  min- 
ister had  to  clear  out  of  our  Lutheran  church,  and  the 
Judge  in  the  District  Court  advised  Rev.  Cornman  to 
resign,  and  for  peace  sake  he  did,  and  went  home  to 
the  United  States. 

Very  sorrowful  years  were  these,  but  at  last  the 
Lord  heard  our  prayers  and  sent  us  in  the  Rev.  Pro- 
fessor Roth,  from  Pittsburgh  Synod,  that  man  who 
was  able  and  willing  to  settle  all  our  difficulties.  Him 
we  have  to  thank  that  he  did  send  us  in  his  brother, 
the  Rev.  D.  Luther  Roth,  a  true  and  able  Lutheran 
minister,  under  whose  guidance  our  Lutheran  Zion 
flourishes  again.  The  sore  wounds  inflicted  to  us  by 
Stine  and  the  other  man  heal  from  year  to  year  more 
and  more. 

Thanks  be  to  God,  that  Mahone  Bay  and  Bridge- 
water  have  likewise  true  and  able  English  Lutheran 
ministers  in  the  Rev,  J.  A.  Scheffer  and  the  Rev.  A. 
L.  Yount.  May  God  bless  them  all  and  their  congre- 
gations. 

Seeing  our  people  in  good  hands,  I  resigned  on  the 
17th  day  of  October,  1876.  Towards  my  support  for 
the  short  remainder  of  my  life,  the  three  parishes  pen- 
sioned me  with  $200,  and  our  Pittsburgh  Synod  made 
me  a  missionary  for  Nova  Scotia  with  a  salary  of  $200. 
Through  the  mercy  of  God  I  am   healthy,  but  my 


CDSSMANN,  THE    FOURTI!    MINISTER. 


409 


Strength  is  exhausted  so  that  I  cannot  perform  any 
more  a  great  deal  of  work.  Whatever  is  in  my  power 
to  do  for  the  welfare  of  our  Lutheran  congregations,  I 
do  it  with  heart's  delight. 

At  one  time  it  had  the  full  appearance,  and  I 
trembled  at  the  thought,  that  all  my  prayers  and  my 
hard  work  for  so  many  years  would  have  been  in  vain, 
and  that  our  Lutheran  churches  would  perish  away 
entirely ;  but  since  the  Lord  our  God  has  spared  my 
life  so  long  as  to  see  our  Lutheran  congregations  pros- 
per again  in  good  hands,  I  exclaim  with  Simeon : 
"  Lord,  now  lettest  Thou  Thy  servant  depart  in  peace." 
Amen. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  thr 
Holy  Ghost.     Amen. 

Charles  E.  Cossmann, 
Missionary  of  the  Ev.  Lutherati  Synod 
of  Pittsburgh,  for  Nova  Scotia. 

Lumnbur^,  April  13, 1880, 


'11 


It  I 
r. 

I!         I 


•i 


11 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 
GENERAL  HISTORY  AND  STATISTICS. 

T  HAVE  been  asked  by  the  pastors  ot  the  Nova  Scotia 
^  Conference  to  prepare  for  insertion  in  this  volume, 
a  short  summary  of  the  early  history  and  present 
statistics  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  general.  In 
obedience  to  that  request  I  have  assembled  and  here- 
with present  the  followiiig  facts: 

As  to  the  origin  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
it  is  not  to  be  disputed  that  she  has  her  primitive 
sources  in  the  doctrines  and  teachings  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  and  the  holy  Apostles.  In  this  respect 
she  traces  her  connection  to  the  early  Christian 
Church.  She  accepts  with  all  Christians  of  whatever 
name,  the  Apostles'  Creed,  the  Nicene  Creed,  and  the 
Athanasian  Creed.  But  as  their  own  particular  dis- 
tinction, those  believers  in  Chiist  who  compose  the 
Lutheran  Church,  receive  the  Augsburg  Confession 
as  a  correct  statement  of  the  great  doctrines  of  God's 
Word,  and  that  Confession  is  their  only  visible  bond 
of  union.     Their  unity  is  solely  in  faith  and  doctrine. 

The  great  principle  of  religious  liberty  asserted  in 

the    Augsburg    Confession,  although    repeatedly   put 

(410) 


r.ENKKAI,    IIISTOKV    AND    STATISTICS. 


411 


forward  by  bold  men  was  as  often  crushed,  until 
about  1530,  it  first  began  to  agitate  the  pubhc  mind 
of  Europe.  At  that  time  the  pope  of  Rome  claimed 
for  himself  the  spiritual  and  temporal  power  over  all 
the  nations  and  kingdoms  of  the  earth.  Although 
guilty  of  the  grossest  wickedness  and  darkest  crimes 
he  avowed  himself  free  from  all  liability  to  err.  When 
men  protested  against  his  assumed  power  and  infalli- 
bility, they  were  put  to  death.  His  adherents  con- 
tinued to  uphold  his  monstrous  claims  and  kings  and 
nobles,  clergy  and  people  quietly  submitted. 

Wickliffe,  in  England,  however,  about  1325,  vigor- 
ously attacked  the  papal  abuses.  Thirty  years  after 
his  death,  which  he  accomplished  in  peace  because 
the  pope  was  prevented  from  seizing  him,  the  Council 
of  Constance  solemnly  anathematized  him.  This 
sapient  Council  then  proceeded  to  depose  the  three 
popes  who  at  the  same  time  had  been  ruling,  fighting 
and  issuing  bulls  against  each  other  for  forty  years, 
and  elected  another.  Huss,  in  Bohemia,  was  burnt 
at  the  stake  July  6th,  141 5,  for  protests  similar  to 
those  of  Wickliffe.  May  30th,  14 16,  his  friend 
Jerome  of  Prague  suffered  a  martyr's  death  for 
similar  causes  and  in  a  like  manner.  Savonarola,  in 
Italy,  and  two  others,  for  the  same  cause,  were  put  to 
death  May  24th,  1498,  and  their  bodies  burned  by  the 


i 


•I 


[I     ll 


412 


ACADIF.    ANP    THK    ACAPIANS. 


1 


executioner.  Hosts  of  less  celebrated  martyrs  were 
publicly  burned  for  expressing  opinions  deemed  by 
the  pope  heretical.  Tn  the  south  of  France,  the  Albi- 
genses,  a  people  hokiiiig  the  doctrines  of  the  early 
Christians,  were  butchered  to  the  number  of  hundreds 
of  thousands,  by  an  army  sent  out  by  the  pope  and 
called  "  the  army  of  the  cross." 

But  in  spite  of  fire  and  sword  the  truth  made  head- 
way, and  the  power  of  the  pope  declined.  The  avar- 
ice of  Leo  X.,  led  him  now  to  issue  "indulgences," 
which  were  worthless  checks  drawn  on  the  bank  of 
salvation,  professing  to  remit  the  punishment  of  sin,  even 
before  the  contemplated  crime  had  been  committed. 
These  were  sold  by  thousands  among  the  peasants  of 
Germany.  The  form  in  which  they  were  drawn  was  as 
follows:  "I  re-establish  you  in  the  innocence  which 
you  received  at  your  baptism,  so  thi:t  if  you  die  soon 
the  gate  of  punishment  will  be  shut,  and  the  gate  of 
happiness  open  to  you,  and  if  you  do  not  die  soon 
this  grace  will  be  reserved  and  secured  for  you." 
This  was  signed  by  the  monk  who  sold  it,  with  the 
authority  of  the  pope.  The  schedule  of  prices  for  the 
different  crimes  was  graded  thus :  for  polygamy,  six 
ducats,  ($12.42);  for  a  common  murder,  seven  ducats, 
($14.49);  ^^^  *^^  murder  of  a  father,  mother,  brother 
or  sister,   eleven  ducats,  ($22.77)  5  ^^^  witchcraft  and 


GENERAL    HISTORY    AND    STATISTICS. 


413 


sorcery,  two  ducats,  {$4.14)',  for  perjury,  nine  ducats, 
(^18.63);  for  church  robbery,  the  same;  for  sodomy, 
twelve  ducats,  and  so  on  through  all  the  crimes  for- 
bidden by  the  Commandments  of  God. 

Martin  Luther,  a  man  of  great  learning  and  pure 
life  was  at  this  time  a  priest  and  teacher  of  theology 
at  Wittenberg  in  Germany.  He  had  been  to  Rome. 
What  he  saw  there  led  him  to  say  :  "  It  is  impossible 
that  matters  can  remain  in  this  state;  things  must 
change  or  break  down."  Later  and  more  emphatically 
he  declared :  "  If  there  be  a  hell  Rome  is  built  on 
the  top  of  it.  Whoever  has  been  at  Rome  knows 
well  that  things  are  worse  than  can  be  expressed  in 
words  or  believed."  But  he  did  not  feel  himself 
called  to  attack  these  abuses  publicly.  He  was  but  a 
poor  and  unknown  priest.  He  had  too  much  rever- 
ence for  authority  to  attack  it  lightly.  How  should 
he  reform  a  world?  "  That  was  far  from  his  thoughts. 
A  humble,  solitary  man,  why  should  he  at  all  meddle 
with  the  world  ?  It  was  the  task  of  quite  higher  men 
than  he.  His  business  was  to  guide  his  own  footsteps 
wisely  through  the  world.  Let  him  do  his  own  ob- 
scure duty  in  it  well ;  the  rest,  horrible  and  dismal  as 
it  looks,  is  in  God's  hand,  not  in  his. 

It  is  curious  to  reflect  what  might  have  been  the 
issue,    had    Roman   popery   happened    to   pass   this 


414 


ACADIE    AND   THE    ACADIANS. 


^i 


Luther  by;  to  go  on  in  its  great  wasteful  orbit,  and 
not  come  athwart  his  little  path,  and  force  him  to  as- 
sault it.  Conceivable  enough  that  in  his  case,  he 
might  have  held  his  peace  about  the  abuses  of  Rome ; 
left  Providence,  and  God  on  high,  to  deal  with  them ! 
A  modest  quiet  man;  not  prompt  he  to  attack  irrever- 
ently persons  in  authority.  His  clear  task,  as  I  say, 
was  to  do  his  own  duty;  to  walk  wisely  in  this  world 
of  confused  wickedness,  and  save  his  own  soul  alive. 
But  the  Roman  Highpriesthood  did  come  athwart 
him :  afar  off  at  Wittenberg  he,  Luther,  could  not  get 
lived  in  honesty  for  it;  he  remonstrated,  resisted,  came 
to  extremity;  was  struck-at,  struck  again,  and  so  it 
came  to  wager  of  battle  between  them."  * 

Pope  Leo  sent  out  a  monk,  Tetzel  by  name,  to  sell 
the  indulgences.  With  public  outcry  throughout  Ger- 
many in  the  market-places,  at  fairs,  and  in  the  public 
assemblies  of  the  people,  this  loud-tongued  friar  auc- 
tioned-off  his  wares.  "Buy!  buy!  buy!"  he  cried. 
"Come,  come  here;  by  the  will  of  the  Holy  Father 
and  the  Holy  Curia  at  Rome,  I  visit  this  place  to  give 
to  you,  O  citizens,  the  benefit  of  these  glorious  indul- 
gences." People  came,  and  bought,  and  went  away  to 
sin.  In  the  confessional  Luther  learned  from  them 
what  they  had  done.     He  demanded  of  them  repent- 

*  Carlyle,  Heroes  and  Hero  Worship,  p.  95. 


GENERAL    HISTORY    AND    STATISTICS. 


415 


ance  in  God's  name.  They  refused  repentance  for 
their  sins,  relying  on  the  indulgences  they  had  bought. 
Luther's  indignation  was  aroused.  He  appealed  to 
his  bishop  to  stop  the  sale  of  the  indulgences.  The 
bishop  advised  him  to  keep  quiet.  He  sought  for 
help  from  his  fellow-priests.  They  feared  to  assail  the 
gigantic  evil.  Tetzel  drove  a  flourishing  trade. 
"  Please  God,"  said  Luther,  "  I  will  make  a  hole  in 
this  drum."  He  denied  the  efficacy  of  the  indulgences. 
He  protested,  and  his  protest  shook  the  world.  His 
word,  by  the  grace  of  God,  was  heard.  It  broke  the 
spell  of  Roman  supremacy. 

In  15 17,  he  made  public  his  famous  Ninety-five 
Theses.  He  affirmed  the  liberty  of  conscience.  He 
openly  avowed  that  no  man,  be  he  priest  or  pope, 
could  come  between  a  soul  and  God.  He  asserted 
that  God  alone  had  power  to  forgive  sin,  and  that  re- 
pentance and  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  were  necessary  to 
forgiveness.  He  rejected,  along  with  the  indulgences, 
the  pope's  assumed  infallibility ;  the  idolatrous  mass ; 
auricular  confession  ;  the  worship  of  images;  adoration 
of  relics;  invocation  of  saints;  worship  of  the  Vir- 
gin Mary;  the  doctrine  of  purgatory;  Romish  fast- 
ings; and  many  other  abuses.  He  declared  that 
priests  should  marry,  and  himself,  later,  took  a  wife, 
Catharine  Von  Bora,  who  had  been  a  nun.     By  so 


)\ 


III    M 


416 


AC  A  DIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


doing,  he  restored  to  the  Church  and  the  world,  that 
bright  spot  in  human  society,  the  pastor's  home. 

In  1520  the  pope  anathematized  Luther,  declared 
his  writings  heretical  and  solemnly  pronounced  upon 
him  the  ban  of  excommunication.  Luther,  in  the 
public  square  of  Wittenberg,  in  the  presence  of  a 
great  company  of  students,  professors  and  citizens 
burned  the  pope's  decree.  The  Sorbonne  (which  was 
the  great  Academy  of  Paris),  under  Romish  influence, 
declared  "that  flames,  and  not  reasoning,  ought  to  be 
employed  against  the  arrogance  of  Luther."  The 
papal  ban  included  not  only  Luther  and  his  writings 
but  all  his  protectors  and  followers  and  commanded 
tliat  he  be  seized  forthwith,  and  delivered  up  for  pun- 
ishment.    But  God  and  his  friends  protected  him. 

King  Henry  VIII.  of  England  wrote  a  volume 
against  him.  This  pleased  the  pope.  He  decorated 
the  King  with  the  title  defensor  Jidei,  *'  defender  of  the 
faith."  The  title  is  still  retained  by  the  sovereigns  of 
England.  The  first  letters  of  it  may  yet  be  seen  on 
the  coins  of  Great  Britain  and  elsewhere.  England 
was  at  that  time  wholly  under  the  pope  of  Rome,  but 
ready  for  the  Reformation  which  soon  followed. 

Printing  had  now  been  discovered.  The  doctrines 
which  Luther  taught  flew  as  though  on  angels'  wings. 
North,  south,  east  and  west  the   Reformation  spread, 


111 


1 


(iRNKKAI.    HIsrORV    AND    STATISTICS. 


Men  accepted  readily  the  Gospel  truths  it  promul- 
gated. They  died  for  them.  The  first  martyrs  were 
two  young  Augustinian  monks,  who  were  burned  at 
Brussels,  July  ist,  1523;  John  Esch  and  Henry  Voes. 
Luther  celebrated  their  heroic  sufferings  in  the  beauti- 
ful hymn: 

'^Ein  neiies  Lied  ivir  heben  mi^ 

Their  example  was  followed  by  the  friar  of  the 
monastery,  Lampert  Thorn,  who  was  suffocated  in 
prison.  George  Buchfiihrer  was  burnt  in  Hungary, 
the  next  year.  And  then  followed  countless  execu- 
tions in  Austria,  Bavaria  and  Swabia.  Caspar  Tauber 
was  burnt  in  Vienna,  Leonard  Kaiser  at  Passau, 
George  Carpentarius  in  Munich ;  John  Hiiglin  at  Con- 
stance ;  George  Winkler,  a  priest,  murdered  at  An- 
schaffenberg  for  having  administered  the  Communion 
under  both  kinds — that  is,  he  gave  the  communicants 
the  bread  and  wine  as  Christ  did,  and  not  the  bread 
only  as  the  Roman  Catholics  do,  and  they  killed  him 
for  it. 

It  was  a  revival  of  the  persecutions  suffered  by  the 

first  Christian  martyrs,  and  for  holding  the  same  faith : 

for  in  all  the  Reformation  Luther  never  introduced  a 

new  doctrine.     Upon  those  who  accepted  the  restored 

faith,  which  though  called  "new"  was  only  the  old 

"faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints  "  by  Christ  and  the 
27 


4i8 


ACADIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


Apostles,  the  name  of  Lutherans  was  fixed.  It  was  in- 
vented by  the  Roman  Catholics  as  a  term  of  reproach. 
The  church  accepted  it  and  has  borne  it  so  nobly 
that  it  has  become  a  name  of  honor.  To-day  we  are 
proud  to  be  Lutherans  and  not  ashamed  of  our  name. 

A  good  illustration  of  how  we  receive  and  reject  the 
name  of  Luther,  was  given  in  the  magnanimous  utter- 
ance of  the  Margrave  of  Brandenburg,  who,  when  re- 
proached with  being  a  Lutheran,  said:  "I  was  not 
baptized  in  the  name  of  Luther;  he  is  not  my  God  and 
Saviour;  I  do  not  rest  my  faith  in  him  as  my  Lord; 
and  so,  in  this  sense,  I  am  no  Lutheran.  But  if  I  be 
asked  whether,  with  my  heart  and  lips,  I  profess  the 
doctrines  which  God  restored  to  light  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  His  blessed  servant,  Dr.  Luther,  I  do  not 
hesitate  to  call  myself  a  Lutheran,  and  am  not 
ashamed  of  it.  In  this  sense  I  am  a  Lutheran,  and, 
as  long  as  I  live,  will  remain  a  Lutheran." 

Luther  himself  said :  "  I  neither  am,  nor  will  be, 
any  man's  master.  I  hold  with  the  Church  the  one 
only  common  doctrine  of  Christ,  who  alone  is  Master 
of  us  al',,  as  we  read  in  Matthew  xxiii.  8." 

The  doctrines  of  the  Lutheran  Church  are  set  forth 
in  the  Augsburg  Confession.  This  Confession,  which 
is  but  an  amplification  of  the  ecumenical  creeds,  was 
prepared  by  Luther  with  the  assistance  of  Philip  Mel- 


GENERAL   HISTORY   AND   STATrsTICS. 


419 


anchthon  and  their  co-workers,  and  presented  before 
the  Emperor  Charles  V.,  in  1 530,  at  Augsburg;  hence 
the  name.  In  addition  to  this,  the  Apology  or  Expla- 
nation to  the  Augsburg  Confession,  the  two  Cate- 
chisms of  Luther,  the  Smalcald  Articles,  and  the 
Formula  of  Concord  are  accepted  as  a  correct  sum- 
mary of  the  faith  of  the  Church. 

By  reference  to  them  it  will  be  seen,  that  we  Luth- 
erans believe  in  one  God,  Father,  Son  and  Holy 
Ghost;  we  believe  in  the  complete  sinfulness  of  man, 
and  the  complete  atonement  wrought  by  the  vicarious 
obedience,  sufferings  and  death  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 
God-man,  for  all  men;  we  believe  in  Justification  before 
God  by  Faith  in  Christ;  in  Repentance;  in  Sanctifica- 
tion  completed  in  the  believer  at  death ;  in  the  Resur- 
rection of  the  body;  in  the  Second  Coming  of  Christ; 
and  in  the  Eternity  of  Hell  and  Heaven.  We  believe 
the  only  appointed  Means  of  Grace  to  be  the  Word  of 
God  and  the  Holy  Sacraments,  and  that  the  Grace  of 
God  is  to  be  obtained  ordinarily  only  through  the  Means 
of  Grace.  We  hold  Baptism  and  the  Holy  Eucharist  or 
Lord's  Supper,  as  the  only  divinely  established  sacra- 
ments. Of  the  former,  we  believe  "  that  it  is  neces- 
sary to  salvation,  that  through  baptism  the  Grace  of 
God  is  offered,  and  that  children  are  to  be  baptized, 
who,   being  by   baptism  offered  to  God  are  received 


li 


i 


,1*' 


i 


420 


ACADIE   AND  THE   ACADIAKS. 


into  His  favor."  But  we  also  believe  that  in  case  bap- 
tism cannot  be  received,  God's  mercy  and  power  ire 
not  limited.  He  may  save  without  it.  Of  the  Holy 
Communion  we  believe  that  the  crue  Body  and  Blood 
of  Christ  are  in,  with,  and  under  the  bread  and  wine, 
communicated  to  all  who  receive  the  Sacrament. 
How,  we  know  not.  To  the  believer  they  secure  the 
remission  of  sin  and  "are  made  a  savor  of  life  unto 
life ;"  to  the  unbelieving  and  unworthy  they  bring  an 
increase  of  guilt  and  "  become  a  savor  of  death  unto 
death."  We  deny  that  the  bread  and  wine  are  changed 
as  to  their  substance  and  hence  reiect  the  Romish 
doctrine  of  Transubstantiation.  We  likewise  reject 
the  kindred  doctrines  of  consubstantiation,  impanation, 
companation,  and  subpanation ;  as  well  as  the  Calvin- 
istic  and  Zwinglian  heresies,  which  make  of  the  bread 
and  the  wine  n  the  Sacrament  only  a  sign,  symbol,  or 
representation  of  the  body  and  blood  of  our  Saviour. 
The  polity  of  the  Lutheran  Church  admits  the  right 
of  congregations  to  govern  themselves,  as  well  as  the 
expediency  of  union  among  them  for  the  general 
good.  In  Scandinavia  she  has  bishops  who  have 
oversight  by  consent  of  the  churches,  but  claim  no 
superiority  by  divine  right.  All  Lutheran  ministers 
a-e  equal  in  authority.  In  Germany  a  Board  of 
Supervision  with  a  Superintendent  is  appointed  by  the 


i 


GENERAL   HISTORY  AND  STATISTICS. 


42 1 


Emperor.  In  America,  Canada,  and  other  parts  of 
the  world,  the  general  government  is  by  Conferences, 
Synods  and  Councils. 

The  Lutheran  Church  was  first  planted  in  America, 
by  Admiral  Coligni,  in  June,  1564.  These  first 
American  Lutherans  were  Frenchmen.  Scarcely 
were  they  settled  in  their  new  home  on  the  bank 
of  the  St.  John  river  in  Florida,  until  they  were  hailed 
by  a  squadron  which  had  pursued  them  from  Spain. 
"What  are  you  doing  in  the  territories  of  King 
Philip?"  was  the  query  of  the  Spaniards.  "Begone!" 
Then  came  the  question;  "Are  you  Catholics  or 
Lutherans?"  "Lutherans  of  the  new  religion,"  was 
the  reply.  The  horrible  announcement  was  then 
made:  "I  am  Pedro  Melendez,  commander  of  this 
armament,  which  belongs  to  the  King  of  Spain,  Don 
Philip  the  Second.  I  have  come  hither  to  hang  and 
destroy  all  the  Lutherans  whom  I  shall  fiivl  either  on 
land  or  sea,  according  to  my  orders  received  from  the 
king,  which  are  so  precise  as  to  deprive  me  of  the 
power  of  .aving  any  one  whatever;  and  these  orders  I 
shall  execute  to  the  letter ;  but  if  I  meet  with  any 
Catholic,  he  shall  receive  good  treatment.  As  for  the 
heretics,  they  snail  die."  The  dreadful  threat  was 
awfully  fulfilled. 

Landing  his  soldiers,  Melendez  marched  upon  the 


422 


ACADIK   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 


\im 


peaceful  settlement.  With  the  ferocity  of  tigers  they 
fell  upon  their  victims.  No  person  was  spared  upon 
whom  they  could  lay  their  hands.  In  their  beds,  in 
flight,  in  prayers  for  mercy,  they  were  slaughtered. 
About  nine  hundred  persons  were  slain.  According 
to  Mendoza,  the  priest  who  accompanied  Melendez  as 
chaplain,  the  Spaniards  did  not  lose  a  man.  A  few  of 
the  men  were  hanged  upon  trees  and  over  their  bodies 
was  placed  the  inscription  : 

Not  as  Frenchmen,  but  as  Lutherans. 

The  women  and  children  were  butchered.  None 
escaped  except  a  few  who  found  a  hiding-place  in  the 
forest.  Thus  the  sun  of  the  first  Lutheran  settlement 
went  down  in  blood.  The  priest,  Mendoza,  says  :  "  the 
Holy  Spirit  enlightened  the  understanding  of  Melen- 
dez, to  enable  him  to  gain  so  great  a  victory."  God 
save  the  mark  !  That  was  a  glorious  Roman  Catholic 
victory.  And  the  spirit  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  is  always  the  same. 

The  first  body  of  Lutherans  to  come  to  America 
after  this  butchery,  arrived  from  Holland  in  162 1. 
Then  came  the  Swedes,  in  1637,  and  made  their  settle- 
ment on  Delaware  Bay.  In  1642,  the  P  v.  John  Cam- 
panius,  the  first  Lutheran  minister,  arri\  ^-d  and  dwelt 
among  them.  Many  Germans  followed.  In  1742 
came  Henry  Melchoir  Muhlenberg,  the  great  organ- 


\ 


GENERAL    HISTORY    AND   STATISTICS. 


4-^3 


I 


izer  of  the  Church  in  the  New  World.  Six  years  after 
his  arrival,  the  first  Synod  was  formed;  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Ministerium.  The  Old  World  now  began,  in 
earnest,  to  pour  the  great  stream  of  emigration  on  the 
American  shores.  In  1820  there  were  in  connection 
with  the  General  Synod,  which  was  organized  in  that 
year,  one  hundred  and  seventy  ministers  and  thirty- 
five  thousand  communicants.  The  civil  war  in  the 
United  States  broke  up  intercourse  between  the  North 
and  South,  and  led  to  the  formation  of  the  General 
Synod  South  in  1863.  The  General  Council,  on  ac- 
count of  certain  theological  tendencies,  was  formed  in 
1868.  The  Synodical  Conference  was  established  in 
1872.  Other  large  bodies  exist  without  connection 
with  the  general  organizations.  The  annexed  table 
will  show  the  growth  and  numerical  standing  of  the 
Church  in  America,  1889. 


JVame. 

Years. 

Minis- 
ters. 

Congre- 
gations. 

Ccmmuni- 
cants. 

General  Council | 

1869 
1889 

497 
889 

913 

1.557 

129,551 
264,235 

General  Synod -j 

1869 
1889 

598 
951 

1,022 
1.423 

1.348 
1,811 

90,928 
157.365 

Synodical  Conference  ....-< 

1872 
1889 

824 
1,291 

187.873 
365,620 

Independent  Synods  .   .   .   .  < 

1869 
1889 

687 
1,276 

1.183 
2,730  . 

1 50,640 
269,743 

Summary < 

1869 
1889 

».933 
4.612 

3.417 
7.91 1 

387.746 
1,086,048 

i. 


It    i.; 


424  ACADiK  AND   run  acadfans. 

These  statistics  deal  with  communicants.  This  ag- 
gregate 1,086,048,  is  short  of  the  grand  total  by  hun- 
dreds of  thousands,  as  every  pastor  in  active  service 
especially  in  the  larger  cities,  knows  well.  Multiply- 
ing the  reported  number  by  five,  which  is  the  average 
taken  by  the  Roman  Catholics  as  the  basis  of  calcula- 
tion, though  they  deny  that  Protestants  have  any  right 
to  claim  so  high  an  average,  we  find  the  grand  total  of 
the  Lutheran  population  in  the  United  States  to  be 
five  millions  four  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  two 
hundred  and  forty,  and  this  I  firmly  believe  to  be  be- 
low the  actual  number. 

The  latest  statistics  show  the  number  of  institutions 
for  higher  education  under  the  control  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church  in  the  United  States  to  be : 

Theological  Seminaries.    ...  25;  Professors,    73;  Students,     800 

Colleges 26;  "          219;  "         3»435 

Academies 39;  «<          131 ;  "         2,313 

Young  Ladies' Seminaries  .    .    .  12;  "            94;  '*            951 

102  517  7,499 

The  figures  for  one  Theological  Seminary,  one  College, 
and  nine  Academies,  are  wanting. 
Our  institutions  of  mercy  comprise : 

Orphans'  Homes 32 

Asylums  for  the  Aged 3 

Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb I 


GENERAL    HISTORY   AND   STATISTICS.  425 

Deaconesses'  Homes  and  Hospital;; i- 

Irnniigrant  Missions o 

Our  church  papers  number: 

English ^^ 

German -2 

Norwegian lg 

Swedish i- 

Danish . 

Icelandic ^ 

Finnish 2 

French    1 

139 

The  General  Statistics  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  as 
published  in  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Council  for 
1889,  are  as  follows  : 

"^  Africa. 

I-  Egypt 2,000 

2.  Cape  Colony ^000 

3.  Mission  Stations 10  000 

4.  Madagascar 25,000 

Total 42,000 

America. 

1.  Greenland ,    .  g^ooo 

2.  United  States  and  Canada i.955i090 

3.  West  Indies 2,500 


426  ACAUIE   AND   THE   ACADIANS. 

4.  firuil .  40,000 

^.  Other  Provinces  of  South  America 1,000 

Total 3,006,590 

Asia. 

1.  Siberia 1,000 

2.  India 180,000 

3.  Other  Countries  in  Asia 5>ooo 

Total 186,000 

Australia  and  Polynesia. 

1.  New  South  Wales 3>ooo 

2.  Victoria 15,000 

3.  South  Australia 25,000 

4.  Queensland 20,000 

Total 63,000 

Europe. 

1.  Denmark 2,083,000 

2.  Germany 29,^00,000 

3.  France 80,000 

4.  Great  Britain  and  Heligoland 52,000 

5.  Holland 75»ooo 

6.  Italy 5,000 

7.  Norway 1,825,000 

8.  Austria,  with  Hungary  and  Siebenburgen 1,550,000 

9.  Roumania 4,500 

10.  Russia 5,060,000 

11.  Sweden 4,600,000 

lotal  ,  , 47,412,090 


. 


GENERAL    HISTORY    AND   STATISTICS. 


>o 

K> 
O 

o 

o 
o 


427 


Correcting  this  aggregate  by  statistics  for  popula- 
tion, herein  given  for  communicants  only,  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  we  have  a  grand  total  of  fifty  mil- 
hons,  eight  hundred  and  eighty-seven  thousand,  two 
hundred  and  forty. 

More  than  fifty  miUions  of  Lutherans  are  in  the 
world.  The  Lutheran  Church  is  great  indeed,  and 
great  in  more  than  numbers.  Her  millions  of  adher- 
ents are  the  human  bulwark,  not  only  of  Protestantism 
but  of  Christianity,  in  the  world  to-day.  They  are 
among  the  noblest  and  best  of  the  inhabitants  of  earth. 
They  shine  as  lights  which  God  has  kindled,  wherever 
they  be,  conspicuous  by  reason  of  honesty,  virtue  and 
faith  in  Him  whose  they  are  and  whom  they  serve. 
As  in  the  Lutheran  Church  Christ's  pure  religion  was 
restored  to  man,  so  in  connection  with  that  Church  her 
people  yet  uphold  and  live  by  that  religion.  And  he 
who  unites  with  them  to  serve  the  Lord  will  find  in 
the  Lutheran  Church  a  home  wherein  he  will  have 
ministered  unto  him  of  the  riches  of  Christ;  he  will 
find  friends  in  the  time  of  trouble,  consolation  in  the 
hour  of  death,  and  safe  direction  to  the  Christian's 
everlasting  home  in  heaven. 


